[00:00:01]
WELCOME THE 27TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE.
IT'S BY 20TH, 2026 AT 3:00 PM AND WE ARE IN THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, CASEY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AREA.
[1 ROLL CALL]
CLERK, IF YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ANDERSON.UH, AND I WAS GONNA TELL YOU, UM, LEGISLATOR HU HUSKY ASKED TO BE EXCUSED.
[2 THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
PEYTON, WILL YOU JOIN OR LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? I PLEAD ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.[3 APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
TO PROVE THE JOURNAL THERE? SECOND.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY THE SIGN OF AYE.
[4 HEARINGS]
JULY 20TH, 2026.I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 6 1 0 4, APPROPRIATING $1 BILLION IN UNDESIGNATED FUND.
BALANCE THE 2026 ANTI-CRIME SALES TAX FUND TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION COST CENTER FUND, AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO EXECUTE A CONSULTING AGREEMENT WITH TJP STRATEGIES, LLC OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AT A COST TO THE COUNTY NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION.
UH, I THINK FOLKS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED IN HERE.
THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT CAN SIGN IN OVER THERE IF YOU STILL, UH, WOULD LIKE TO, UH, IF YOU PLAN TO TESTIFY TODAY, PLEASE STAND NOW SO WE CAN SWEAR YOU IN, UH, VIA THE CLERK.
SO IF YOU PLAN ON SPEAKING TODAY, PLEASE STAND UP.
DO YOU SWEAR UNDER THE PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? ALL RIGHT.
SO WE WILL CALL YOU UP AND I'LL CALL THE FIRST AND THEN THE NEXT PERSON TO BE, UH, ON DECK, READY TO GO SO WE CAN KEEP THINGS GOING.
UH, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP EVERYTHING TO TWO MINUTES.
UM, AND ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, NOT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR MARKS ON THE SUBJECT OF THIS HEARING.
WE ASK THAT YOU AVOID REPEATING POINTS MADE BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY WRITTEN TESTIMONY OR DOCUMENTS, PLEASE HAND THEM TO THE COUNTY CLERK RIGHT HERE, OR DEPUTY COUNTY CLERK.
AFTER YOU SPEAK, THEY WILL BE LABELED AS EXHIBITS AND INCLUDED IN THE PERMANENT RECORD.
UH, YOUR INPUT IS VITAL IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.
I WILL NOW CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, MR. HENRY WASH.
WILL YOU JOIN US HERE AT THE PODIUM? HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEP.
UH, TEEN TAKEOVERS ARE OFTEN PORTRAYED NEGATIVELY, BUT ALSO REFLECT YOUNG PEOPLE'S DESIRE FOR CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY HIGH ASPIRATIONS HAS DEMONSTRATED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT ENERGY IS GUIDED WITH STRUCTURE AND POSITIVE LEADERSHIP.
THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, 133 YOUNG MEN GATHERED FOR A HIGH ASPIRATIONS EVENT, AND WE HOSTED ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL WHERE WE GATHERED AT TAP INS IN OBERLAND PARK.
THERE WERE NO POLICE, NO INTERVENTION, AND A NEGATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE BECAUSE OUR YOUNG MAN BECAME ONE AND THEY CAME TOGETHER TO RESPECT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
OUR PRESENCE HAS MADE A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY SURROUNDING 27TH, AND CHARLOTTE AND CAMPBELL.
PROPERTY CRIMES HAVE DECLINED BY APPROXIMATELY 19 TO 20%, WHILE VIOLENT CRIME HAS DECREASED BY ROUGHLY 27 TO 31% OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE HIGH ASPIRATIONS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THESE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD 17 YOUNG MEN WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AND GRADUATE, NO FUNERALS, BUT TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
WHILE THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO DO, I FEEL LIKE COMBAT HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY VITAL PART OF WHY WE'RE STILL HERE.
AND WITHOUT COMBAT, I DON'T BELIEVE ACHIEVING THESE RESULTS WOULD EVEN BE POSSIBLE.
UM, LISA MAZEL, AND THEN BOB RODRIGUEZ IS NEXT.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHILD PROTECTION CENTER IN KANSAS CITY.
I'M REPRESENTING THE VICTIM SERVICE AGENCIES THAT SERVE OUR YOUNGEST VICTIMS OF CRIME.
UM, WITHOUT THE COMBAT SUPPORT, WE COULDN'T OFFER THE SERVICES THAT WE DO TO SERVE THE CHILDREN THAT ARE PHYSICALLY SEXUALLY ABUSED, WITNESS
[00:05:01]
TO VIOLENT CRIME WITHIN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY.IT'S VITAL FUNDING THAT HELPS US MAINTAIN OUR SERVICES AND OPEN OUR DOORS TO EVERYONE FREE OF CHARGE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAL FROM THE TRAUMA THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED.
ANGIE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD?
I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF JACKSON COUNTY CAA REPORTER.
UH, LAST YEAR IN JACKSON COUNTY, WE SERVED, UH, NEARLY 1400 CHILDREN WHO WERE IN FOSTER CARE DUE TO EXPERIENCING ABUSE OR NEGLECT.
AND I MENTION THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ABUSE OR NEGLECT OFTENTIMES IS, IS GENERATIONAL IN FAMILIES, AND WE NEED ALL OF THE COMBAT SERVICES AND THAT ANTI-CRIME SERVICES TO BETTER SUPPORT PARENTS WHO CAN IN TURN, UH, BE SAFE AND HEALTHY FOR CHILDREN.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE CRIME VICTIM SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS HERE TODAY, WE STRONGLY, STRONGLY, UH, REQUEST THAT THAT COMBAT CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED AND THAT THIS, UM, INITIATIVE IS PASSED SO THAT WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE VOTERS OF JACKSON COUNTY.
UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE SHOULD JOIN US UP HERE SO THAT THE VIDEO CAN HEAR IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE.
UH, BOB RODRIGUEZ AND TRU CHUCK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SALIE.
AND THEN EMMA, MS. SEXTON, AFTER.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HEART OF AMERICA BOY SCOUTS HERE IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR YOUTH, THE CHALLENGES, AND NO ONE HAS A SOLUTION.
I'D LIKE TO TALK IN SUPPORT OF THE COMBAT PROGRAM.
'CAUSE THROUGH THE COMBAT PROGRAM, SCOUTS HAS BEEN ABLE TO SERVE OVER THREE, 3000 YOUTH IN THE JACKSON COUNTY AREA AT OVER ABOUT A HUNDRED LOCATIONS.
AND IN SCOUTING WE FOCUS ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT, LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMBAT PROGRAM, WE'RE ABLE TO HELP FOCUS SCOUTS ON STAYING IN SCHOOL, GETTING BETTER GRADES IN SCHOOL, STAYING OUTTA TROUBLE, AND SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE COMBAT PROGRAM THAT HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF HELPING THE HEART OF AMERICA SCOUTS SERVE THE YOUTH OF JACKSON COUNTY.
AND THEN, I DON'T KNOW, UH, MR. CHAIR A A POINT OF ORDER.
LEGISLATOR SMITH, I JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AGENDA STATES THAT THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, NOT ABOUT WHETHER THE THE ACTUAL COMBAT TAX IS, UM, NEEDED OR NOT.
IT'S ABOUT THE ORDINANCE THAT IS APPROPRIATING A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.
SO I DON'T WANT THE, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN TIME TO BE THERE TO SPEAK, UM, MISUNDERSTAND WHAT THE POINT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE ACTUAL TAX, IT'S ABOUT THE ORDINANCE.
THE ORDINANCE IS WHAT WILL MAKE THE TAX HAPPEN.
SO THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF MS. COURTNEY THOMAS OR COURTNEY COOPER WANNA SPEAK WITH THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT IN LINE.
UM, CHAIRMAN ABAR AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, MY NAME IS EMMA SEXTON AND I SERVE AS MANAGER OF THE TEAM FOR INFANTS EXPOSED TO SUBSTANCE USE OR TIES, UH, WHICH IS A HOME VISITING PROGRAM.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW COMBAT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
UM, I WANNA START WITH FIVE WORDS THAT CAPTURE WHY COMBAT MATTERS TO THE FAMILIES WE SERVE.
UM, RESEARCH, COLLABORATION, PREVENTION, RECOVERY, AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.
FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, COMBAT HAS INVESTED IN EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.
IT SUPPORTS A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES RANGING FROM PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION TO TREATMENT AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY SUPPORT.
THE TIES PROGRAM IS ONE PIECE OF THAT CONTINUUM.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH TREATMENT PROVIDERS, COURTS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IMPACTED BY SUBSTANCE USE.
RECOVERY DOES NOT HAPPEN IN ISOLATION.
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON HAVING A COORDINATED SYSTEM OF SERVICES AVAILABLE WHEN FAMILIES NEED THEM.
WE SEE EVERY DAY THAT WHEN PARENTS ACHIEVE SOBRIETY, STRENGTHEN THEIR PARENTING SKILLS, ACCESS CHILDCARE, AND OTHER SUPPORTS, AND CREATE THE ABILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO ENTER AND REMAIN IN THE WORKFORCE.
THE RESULT IS STRONGER FAMILIES, HEALTHIER CHILDREN, AND LASTING MULTI-GENERATIONAL CHANGE.
THAT'S WHY THIS EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN IS SO IMPORTANT.
[00:10:01]
HOW TO VOTE, IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE A CLEAR, FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT COMBAT FUNDING DO, DOES, WHO IT SERVES, AND THE IMPACT THAT THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE ACROSS JACKSON COUNTY.ON BEHALF OF THE TIES PROGRAM AND THE FAMILIES WE SERVE, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
UM, MS. THOMAS OR MS. COOPER, DO YOU EITHER OF YOU WANNA SPEAK? UH, POINT OF ORDER? MR. CHAIR, LEGISLATOR SMITH.
MR. CHAIR, YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGED MY, MY AUDIO IS A LITTLE CHOPPY, SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME OR NOT, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE, CAN YOU PLEASE INSTRUCT THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON THE ORDINANCE? THE ORDINANCE IS ABOUT THE $1 MILLION GOING TO THE COMPANY TJP STRATEGY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THE TAX.
THIS IS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND GIVING THE MONEY TO THIS COMPANY.
WE'RE GONNA LET THESE THANK YOU TESTIFY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
MY NAME'S COURTNEY THOMAS, AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEWHOUSE, WHICH IS KANSAS CITY'S FIRST AND OLDEST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE VOTERS DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT COMBAT TRULY IS BEFORE THEY'RE ASKED TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT ITS FUTURE.
IT'S NOT SIMPLY A FUNDING SOURCE, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT DOESN'T JUST FUND ONE ORGANIZATION OR PROGRAM.
IT INVESTS IN AN ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF PREVENTION, TREATMENT, VICTIM SERVICES, ACCOUNTABILITY, YOUTH PROGRAMS, NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.
AND TOGETHER THESE INVESTMENTS MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER AND SAFER.
WE KNOW THAT WE CANNOT SHELTER OUR WAY OUT OF VIOLENCE.
WE CANNOT ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF VIOLENCE.
AND LASTING PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
COUPLED WITH LONG-TERM SUPPORT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO RISE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND JUST LAST YEAR, 31,000 REQUESTS FOR HELP WENT UNMET BECAUSE WE HAVE NO RESOURCES AND BED SPACE TO MEET THE NEED.
THOSE UNMET NEEDS DO NOT DISAPPEAR.
THEY BECOME TOMORROW'S POLICE REPORT.
EMERGENCY ROOM VIC VISIT, CHILD WELFARE CASE ARE FAR TOO OFTEN TOMORROW'S HOMICIDE.
THAT'S WHY PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT IS THE BEST, UM, INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE AROUND PREVENTION.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE INVEST IN PREVENTION SAVES FIVE TO $8 IN DOWNSTREAM PUBLIC COSTS.
SO WE CAN EITHER INVEST UPSTREAM PREVENTION OR CONTINUE TO PAY DOWNSTREAM FOR CRISIS.
UH, AS VOTERS CONTINUE, CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF COMBAT, THEY DESERVE CLEAR FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THESE INVESTMENTS ACCOMPLISH EVERY DAY, NOT JUST FOR ONE ORGANIZATION LIKE NEWHOUSE, BUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, NEIGHBORHOODS, FAMILIES, AND EVERY RESIDENT OF JACKSON COUNTY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE SO VOTERS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT ONE OF JACKSON COUNTY'S MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS.
UH, MS. COOPER, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? NO.
UH, CAPTAIN MR. CHAIR, POINT OF POINT OF INFORMATION, MR. CHAIR POINT OF INFORMATION, NO.
CAPTAIN MARK SLATER, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COMBAT AND ITS IMPACT WITH THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
COMBAT FUNDING IS PRIMARILY USED.
UH, SEAN JUST TEXTED ME AND TOLD ME THAT FIVE SEPARATE DIVISIONS, UH, ENABLING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
MAN, HE SAW MANNY HIT THE SWITCH.
HE HAS CONTROLS OF THE AUDIO FEED, AND HE ASKED ME, CAN I STILL HEAR OF INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT, OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2025, COMBAT FUNDED PERSONNEL HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES.
5,250 CRIMINAL CASES ASSIGNED 297 FIREARMS RECOVERED OVER 7,000 POUNDS OF NARCOTICS SEIZED.
55 INMATE REENTRY VISITS, UH, CONDUCTED OVER 120 INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN CASES ASSIGNED 785 TACTICAL RESPONSES, OVER 13,000 VISITS TO THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE, AND OVER 1400 COMMUNITY MEETINGS ATTENDED.
AS THESE NUMBERS DEMONSTRATE, THE IMPACT OF COMBAT FUNDING IS BOTH BROAD AND SIGNIFICANT.
IT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES, STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENGAGE WITH THE CITIZENS WE SERVE.
WE HAVE ANY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
CAPTAIN SLATER, MR. CUMMINGS, AND THEN MS. KEISHA BARGE, I THINK, OR BAY BRIGGS BRIGGS.
DAN CUMMINGS WITH THE DRUG TASK FORCE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON COMBAT.
[00:15:01]
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DRUG TASK FORCE.IT WAS FORMED IN 1989 AS A COMBINED AND UNIFIED RESPONSE TO THE ILLEGAL DRUG PROBLEM IN JACKSON COUNTY.
IT HAS SINCE MORPHED INTO A VIOLENT CRIME TASK FORCE.
SO ESSENTIALLY, WE ARE A DRUG AND A VIOLENT CRIME TASK FORCE.
WORKING TASK FORCE RECEIVES ABOUT 9.5% OF THE GENERATED REVENUE FROM COMBAT THAT FUNDS THE TASK FORCE.
OVER 90, ABOUT 92% OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM COMBAT.
JACKSON COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE SIGNED AN MOU WITH THE TASK FORCE.
NINE OF THOSE PROVIDE MANPOWER AND ALL THE SALARIES ARE REIMBURSED BY COMBAT.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE INITIATED 589 INVESTIGATIONS RESULTING IN THE PROSECUTION OF 882 FEDERAL CASES, 298 STATE CASES, AND THE RECOVERY OF OVER A MILLION GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE RECOVERED 96,900 GRAMS OF, EXCUSE ME, 48,612 GRAMS OF POWDERED FENTANYL.
THE ESTIMATES ARE A 0.2 OR TWO MILLIGRAMS OF FENTANYL OR A LETHAL DOSE.
SO IF YOU DO THE MATH ON THAT, WE'VE RECOVERED OVER 24.3 MILLION LETHAL DOSES OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE RECOVERED 533 FIREARMS, 24 FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS, 25 IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES WITH THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE DRUG SEIZED APPROXIMATELY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, OVER 146 MILLION.
AVERAGE STAFFING LEVELS OF THE TASK FORCE IS 19 TO 21 WITH THE AVERAGE OF ABOUT 20 DETECTIVES PER YEAR.
SO THIS IS A RESULT OF 20 DETECTIVES FULLY FUNDED BY COMBAT.
NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT COMBAT.
AND IN ADDITION, WHAT I WANNA SAY IS THAT COMBAT PROVIDES A UNIFIED RESPONSE TO THIS DRUG PROBLEM.
LAW ENFORCEMENT, US INCLUDED, OR NOT GOING TO ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.
WE NEED A COMBINED AND UNIFIED FRONT WITH TREATMENT, PREVENTION, REHABILITATION, AND ENFORCEMENT.
WITH, WITHOUT ALL OF THOSE STEPS, WE'RE NOT GONNA WIN ANYTHING.
THANK YOU, MR. CUMMINGS, MS. BRIGGS.
AND THEN WE HAVE NEXT, UH, CLYDE MCQUEEN.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING US TO, UH, COME IN AND SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE WITH COMBAT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PREVENTIVE SIDE AND A COLLABORATION WITH WORKING WITH THE JUSTICE SIDE AND THE TREATMENT SIDE.
I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE WITHOUT TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH, WE WILL STILL BE STRUGGLING MORE THAN WE ARE TODAY.
I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT SOME OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR.
ALONG THIS YEAR ALONG, WE HAVE FED OVER 4,700 MEALS TO YOUTH IN SOUTH KANSAS CITY.
WE ARE IN A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTH PATROL, WHICH THEY ATTEND EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PARTNER OF SOUTH PATROL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, BRIDGE IS ALSO, UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS ON, UH, PROVIDING THEM WITH PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN ORDER TO BE STRONGER, BOLDER YOUNG ADULTS.
IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, OUR NEW, UH, PROGRAM IS OUR THRIVING PROGRAM WHERE WE WORK WITH FAMILIES, UM, AND OUR PROGRAM WITH, UH, INTRODUCING THERAPY, MAKING THERAPY MORE COMMON, MAKING IT MORE NORMAL TO TALK ABOUT.
AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF COMBAT, WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE KIDS IN SOUTH KANSAS CITY.
AND I AM A, A PROUD SUPPORTER THAT WITH ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS BEHIND US, WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
WE HAVE TO DO IT IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH EVERYONE WHO HAS ALREADY SPOKEN AND EVERYONE WHO WAS FOLLOWING TO SPEAK AFTER ME.
WHAT ORGANIZATION WERE YOU WITH AGAIN? SORRY? BRIDGE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
AND THEN ANGIE BLUME, IF, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING, YOU'RE NEXT.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND LEGISLATURE.
UH, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY I AGREE.
WE VERY NEED TO EDUCATE AND ORIENTATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPACT OF THIS SYSTEM.
UH, THIS LAST YEAR, UH, FEC, WE SERVED 151 CLIENTS THROUGH THE COMBAT SYSTEM FOR THE AVERAGE WAGE OF 1880 AND A HIGH OF 33 65.
AND WHAT WE DID WAS, AND I'LL LEAVE THIS WITH YOU, UH, WE TOOK PICTURES OF THESE PEOPLE.
THEY AGREED TO BE PUT THEMSELVES OUT SO THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THEM.
A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T WANNA DO THAT.
THE COMBAT PARTICIPANTS DO STRIVING.
THE ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH COMBAT ARE VERY ASSERTIVE AND ARTICULATE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, KEEP NUMBERS.
SO WE KEEP NUMBERS ON THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.
WE KNOW THAT WE WORK BECAUSE OF WORKING WITH OTHERS AND NOT BY OURSELVES.
AND THIS IS A SYSTEMS BASED PROGRAM.
SO I HOPE THIS EDUCATION PROGRAM IS MADE AVAILABLE SO THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOES UNDERSTAND.
WE NEED TO JUST START OUT HERE GETTING MONEY FOR OURSELVES WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
[00:20:01]
CLARK.AND THEN JASON HEARD IF JASON, YOU WANNA BE NEXT? I AM LINDSEY CLARK.
I AM WITH OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH AND ALSO REPRESENTING MINE DRIVE.
AND I JUST STAND WITH MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE, UM, IN SAYING I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS ORDINANCE AND THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THIS IS NOT JUST FUNDING.
THIS IS PART OF THE SOLUTION, AND IT'S A SOLUTION THAT'S WORKING.
WE CAN ALL THROW OUR NUMBERS AT YOU.
IT'S WORKING, UM, AT OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH.
IT'S DURING THAT AFTER SCHOOL TIME.
IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT AND IT'S GOING TO WORK.
UM, I JUST HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED AND EDUCATION IS LIKE THE BIGGEST THING.
I'M THE SENIOR DIRECTOR AT THE WELCOME HOUSE, UH, KANSAS CITY BASED ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT TO SERVE MEN WHO SEEK RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
UM, EVERY DAY WE WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REBUILDING THEIR LIVES, UH, AFTER ADDICTION.
RECOVERY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ABSTINENCE.
UH, REQUIRES ACCESS TO TREATMENT, STABLE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, PEER RECOVERY SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, THESE RESOURCES HELP REDUCE CRIME AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
COMBAT HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PARTNER IN SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF SUBSTANCE USE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
INVESTMENTS IN PREVENTION, TREATMENT, RECOVERY, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE, OF OUR COMMUNITY.
RATHER THAN RETURNING TO BACK TO THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION AND CRIMINALITY, AS THE LEGISLATURE DISCUSSES MATTERS IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, INVOLVING THE JACKSON COUNTY COMBAT AND THE AGENCIES, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, CONTINUE RE RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF IT, THE MISSION, AND TO ENSURE ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY.
UM, KEEP SERVICES REMAINING STRONG.
THESE PROGRAMS BENEFIT NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUSINESSES, FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
JOE REED, AND THEN LAUREN CLIFTON THOMPSON, BOARD OF INFORMATION.
BOBBY REED FROM HEALING HOUSE.
AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALL OUR NUMBERS AND STATISTICS, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I WANNA SHARE THOSE, UM, POINT OF INFORMATION.
I HOPE AS YOU ALL LOOK OUT HERE, THIS IS THE HEART OF KANSAS CITY RIGHT HERE.
THESE WE'RE THE GLUE THAT HOLDS OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND IT TAKES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.
AND, I MEAN, I KNOW MOST OF THE AGENCIES HERE, AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
'CAUSE YOU MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERS WITH COMBAT FOR A LONG TIME, AND I DON'T, I REALLY DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE KNOWS ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AND THEY NEED TO KNOW, BECAUSE THE WORK WE DO IS IMPORTANT.
AND IT DOES, IT, IT CHANGES OUR CITY.
AND SO I'M JUST HONORED TO BE PART OF IT.
I HOPE YOU ALL SUPPORT US WITH THE ORDINANCE.
UH, MEGAN, I DON'T WANNA MAKE YOU MAD, HONEY.
SO,
AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO.
MR. CHAIR, I, I THINK LEGISLATOR SMITH HAD A QUESTION.
SHE'S GOT A HAND RAISE, AND I SAW HER TALKING ON THE SCREEN.
LEGISLATOR SMITH? YES, MR. CHAIR, CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT THE ORDINANCE IS DOING THAT WE'RE HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMS? CAN YOU HELP US WITH THAT? IT'S THAT SWITCH THAT YOU FLIPPED EARLIER WHEN YOU DIDN'T WANNA HEAR FROM HER.
WELL, THAT'S COMM'S THING, SO FIGURE THAT PART OUT.
IS THERE A, A SWITCH? WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU REFERRING TO? I THINK IT'S NEXT.
I REPRESENT AMETHYST PLACE, AND I JUST WANNA TELL YOU ALL THANK YOU FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO AMETHYST PLACE CHILDREN.
WE CAME OUT OF A TASK FORCE WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES RIGHT BEHIND ME THAT RECOGNIZE THAT WOMEN WERE LIVING AT 30, 60, 90 DAY TREATMENT CENTERS AND GOING RIGHT BACK INTO THE SAME ENVIRONMENT WHERE SUBSTANCE USE AND TRAUMA BEGAN IN THE BIG TIME.
THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEFT IN THE BALANCE.
AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE SERVED, NOT ONLY OVERCOME THE TRAUMA THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED, BUT ALSO BREAK THOSE GENERATIONAL CYCLES.
AND THAT'S WHAT COMBAT HELPS US DO.
NOT ONLY ARE WE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CHILDREN WITH THERAPY ON SITE AND STABLE HOUSING, UM, ALONG WITH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES THAT WE ALL WANT FOR OUR OWN KIDS.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE, UM, CONSTITUENTS OF JACKSON COUNTY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE AND TO HELP US AMPLIFY OUR IMPACT.
[00:25:01]
YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ROOM THAT DO THIS WORK ALONGSIDE US.WE DON'T DO ANY OF THIS IN A VACUUM, AND SO I JUST WANNA PROPEL THIS FORWARD AND, AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
SARAH BROOMER, I'M SORRY, MARY ANN METHENY.
AND THEN SARAH BROOMER AND RACHEL DAVIDSON ARE THE LAST ONE.
SO IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP, THAT'S FINE TOO.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE.
HOPE HOUSE HAS BEEN RECEIVING COMBAT FUNDING.
UM, I'VE BEEN AT HOPE HOUSE FOR 34 YEARS.
WE RECEIVED IT THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN THERE, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALL OF US COULD STAND HERE FOR HOURS AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT COMBAT HAS FUNDED, THE THINGS THAT, UM, THAT WE'RE DOING ON A DAILY BASIS AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE IMPACTING.
BUT IT'S VERY, VERY VITAL THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE VOTING FOR THIS UNDERSTAND AS WELL.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW IT, BUT IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING FOR THIS UNDERSTAND THE GOOD WORK THAT COMBAT HAS BEEN DOING.
AND WE REALLY, TRULY HOPE WILL CONTINUE TO BE DOING SO.
SARAH BROOMER, THEN RACHEL DAVIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME PROCEDURAL ISSUES HERE, AND I'LL TRY TO BE SHORT.
I AM A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES CENTER.
THAT INCLUDES OUR OFFENDER INTERVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH IS FUNDED BY COMBAT.
SO COMBAT FUNDS OFFENDER INTERVENTION GOAL IS SO THAT THE BEHAVIOR DOESN'T KEEP HAPPENING.
WE'RE ULTIMATELY ADDRESSING THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
FOR YEARS, WE'VE HID VICTIMS. AND THE TRUTH IS, IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T TREAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING.
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FUND FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, IS TREATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS AND HELPING THEM REPAIR.
SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN A, IN FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS.
ALL OF THE PARTNERS WE'RE HERE WITH TODAY HAVE A SIMILAR STORY.
THIS FUNDING CHANGES LIVES, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL HERE TO TELL YOU IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR IT TO GO FORWARD.
I THINK THERE'S OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE SIGNED UP HERE.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS ONE MORE AT THE END OF THIS ONE.
RACHEL DAVIDSON AND THEN ANN VAN Z.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK ON BEHALF OF COMBAT.
UM, I'M THE CEO OF OZARK RECOVERY HOUSING.
WE PROVIDE RESPITE AND RECOVERY HOUSING SERVICES, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
WE KIND OF ARE A NICHE ORGANIZATION IN THAT WE PROVIDE RESPITE, WHICH IS UNIQUE ON THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
UM, I KNOW FOR SURE THAT WE SAVE THE COUNTY AND THE TAXPAYERS MONEY BY KEEPING PEOPLE OUTTA HOSPITALS AND JAILS.
BUT, UM, I WANNA ECHO WHAT ANOTHER WISE LADY SAID.
IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION, RIGHT? AND SPEAKING AS A VOTER AND NOT JUST A PROVIDER.
I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE ISSUES AT HAND.
I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT EACH OF THE PROGRAMS THAT MY TAXES ARE FUNDING SO THAT I CAN MAKE AN EDUCATED CHOICE ABOUT WHERE I WANT MY MONEY TO GO.
SO I HOPE THAT THIS IS APPROVED FOR THE VOTER'S SAKE AND SPEAKING PERSONALLY AS A VOTER.
THANK YOU, MS. ANN VAN ZI THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I REPRESENT THE CENTER FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
WE WORK IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND THEN ALSO ONCE HARM HAS HAPPENED, WE WORK TO HEAL AND PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY AND BRING PEOPLE BACK TOGETHER.
UM, AS I WAS SITTING HERE, I'M STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SUCH A DIVERSITY OF ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE ONE OF THE VERY SMALLEST, UM, WE RECEIVE COMBAT FUNDING UNDER STRIVEN AND ALSO, UM, PREVENTION.
AND AS THE LAST SPEAKER SAID, AS A VOTER, I AM CONCERNED THAT WITHOUT THIS ORDINANCE PASSING, WITHOUT THERE BEING A ROBUST INFORMATION FACT-BASED CAMPAIGN, THAT TELLS THE STORY OF ALL OF THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON PEOPLE THAT LIVE, WORK, GO TO SCHOOL, RECREATE HERE IN JACKSON COUNTY, THAT AS WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CURRENT CLIMATE, THAT MISINFORMATION WILL TAKE OVER.
AND THAT PERHAPS OUTSIDE INTERESTS THAT DO NOT HAVE A, UM, A MEANINGFUL, UM, PRESENCE OR AN INTEREST IN JACKSON COUNTY, UM, THAT THEY WILL, THEY'LL TAKE THE, TAKE THE DAY AND THEY'LL TAKE THE INFORMATION TO THE VOTERS, AND THEY WON'T HAVE THAT BALANCING FACT-BASED, IMPACT BASED, UM, INFORMATION TO RELY ON.
SO I HOPE THAT THAT MAKES SENSE.
UM, JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE ORDINANCE TO FUND THE INFORMATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
[5 COMMUNICATIONS WITH AND REPORTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE]
AND REPORTS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MR.[00:30:01]
CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE.I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FEW WEEKS IT'S BEEN FOR JACKSON COUNTY IN OUR REGION.
THE WORLD WAS WATCHING AND KANSAS CITY AND JACKSON COUNTY DELIVER AIRHEAD STADIUM WELCOME.
MORE THAN 413,000 FANS IN THE SIX WORLD CUP MATCH PLAY HERE.
MORE THAN 400,000 PLUS VISITORS EXPERIENCED THE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL.
BUT WHAT MADE THIS TOURNAMENT SPECIAL WASN'T JUST THE ATTENDANCE, IT WAS EXPERIENCE THE JACKSON COUNTY EXPERIENCE.
WE WITNESSED UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS LIKE LIONEL MESSI'S, HISTORIC HAT TRICK, ROCCO ERNIE, ITS FIRST EVER WORLD CUP POINT, AND THE INCREDIBLE ORANGE FAN WALK THAT TURNED OUR STREETS INTO A SEA OF ORANGE.
JUST AS IMPORTANT, WE SHOWED THE WORLD WHAT JACKSON COUNTY IS ALL ABOUT.
OUR RESIDENTS, VOLUNTEERS, VISITORS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WELCOME VISITORS WITH UNMATCHED HOSPITALITY.
WE'VE PROVED WE'RE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF HOSTING THE WORLD'S BIGGEST EVENTS BECAUSE OF THAT SUCCESS.
WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TO OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE 2031 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP AND FUTURE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS, THE WORLD RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP.
SO THIS TOURNAMENT WASN'T JUST ABOUT SOCCER, IT WAS ABOUT SHOWCASING JACKSON COUNTY AS A WORLD CLASS DESTINATION.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SPOKE TO IT.
I WANNA TAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY PROVIDING HEALTHCARE IN JACKSON COUNTY, OUR UNIVERSITY HEALTH HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
YOU REMEMBER, IT'S TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER.
NOW, I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER.
CHARLIE DOESN'T LIKE IT WHEN I SAY THAT, BUT I AM ALWAYS OBSESSED WITH HARRY TRUMAN.
BUT UNIVERSITY HEALTH IS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.
IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF JACKSON COUNTY, AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE IT HAS THE FACILITIES NEEDED, PROVIDE THE HIGH QUALITY CARE OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE.
OVER THE YEARS, MANY OF THE BUILDINGS ON BOTH THE KANSAS CITY AND LEE SUMMIT CAMPUSES HAVE EXPERIENCED YEARS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
THEIR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS DIRECTLY IMPACT THE HOSPITAL'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR PATIENTS TODAY AND WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE IGNORED THE SYSTEM, PERIOD.
THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING TO YOU THE FIRST JUST INFORMATIONAL HERE TODAY OF BRINGING FORWARD A PROPOSAL TO ISSUE UP TO $150 MILLION IN BONDS FOR CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS.
IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS WITHOUT ASKING JACKSON COUNTY TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THEM UPFRONT, THEN IT'S TIME TO ACT AND IT'S TIME TO ACT.
NOW, WAITING ONLY MAKES THESE PROJECTS MORE EXPENSIVE AND ALLOWS THOSE MAINTENANCE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
THIS INVESTMENT WILL HELP ENSURE THAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH HAS MODERN, SAFE, AND RELIABLE FACILITIES, SO IT CAN CONTINUE SERVING OUR RESIDENTS FOR DECADES TO COME.
I'M EXCITED THAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH HAS PROPOSED EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT JUST FOR ONE PART OF THE COUNTY, BUT FOR ALL OF THEM.
SO, TO HELP US WALK THROUGH THE THIS PROPOSAL, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT TODAY.
I'VE INVITED A COUPLE INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE MORE DETAIL.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHARLIE SHIELDS, WHO WILL DISCUSS THE NEEDS AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH CAMPUS ON KANSAS CITY AND AT LEE SUMMIT, AND EXPLAIN HOW THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BENEFIT PATIENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN JAMES PRITCHARD, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT COLUMBIA CAPITAL, ONE OF OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, WILL EXPLAIN, UH, THE PROPOSED BOND STRUCTURE, HOW THE FINANCE STUDENT WOULD WORK, AND WHY THIS APPROACH ALLOWS US TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS WITHOUT AN UPFRONT COST TO THE COUNTY.
AFTER THE PRESENTATION, LOVE THE HAPPY TO DISCUSS AND ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A SLIDESHOW THAT WERE THERE, AND, UH, IT'S MY HONOR TO, TO TURN IT OVER TO SENATOR, DR.
GOVERNOR, MAYOR, WHATEVER, UH, MR. CHARLIE SHIELDS, WHO'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TRUMAN HEALTH SYSTEM UNIVERSITY HEALTH AGAIN.
AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND HE'S GOT A GREAT STORY TO TELL HOW WE CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
CHARLIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
A COUPLE OF THOSE TITLES APPLY.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, IN PARTICULAR, LEADERSHIP OF THE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AS WE BEGIN TO ADDRESS.
UH, YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY, MAKE SURE YOUR LIGHT'S ON GREENS, IT'S ON.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE LEADERSHIP.
UH, JUST KIND OF GO BACK AND, AND GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY ON THIS.
AND MANY OF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE CAMPUS AND WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE AROUND THAT.
SO THE, THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH, FORMERLY TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER,
THAT LAND WAS, UH, SOLD TO THE COUNTY BY HENRY YOUNGER, UH, OR THOMAS YOUNGER, EXCUSE ME.
UH, AND BECAME REALLY PART OF THE COUNTY'S, UH, RESPONSE TO, UH, HELPING THOSE MORE UNFORTUNATE.
SO, UNIVERSITY HEALTH HAS BEEN OPERATING, UH, THAT CAMPUS SINCE 1976.
UH, BUT THE CAMPUS ITSELF REMAINS THE COUNTY PROPERTY.
UH, SO IF YOU LOOK ON THE SCREEN, UH, KIND OF DESCRIBES THE AGES OF THE BUILDING.
SO THE OLDEST BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS, UH, WAS BUILT IN 1908.
UH, THE BUILDING, UH, JUST TO THE NORTH OF IT, WAS BUILT IN 1928.
[00:35:01]
IS 98 YEARS OLD.UH, THESE BUILDINGS ALL STILL MAINTAIN CLINICAL SERVICES IN THEM, SO THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
UH, BUT THEY HAVE REACHED SORT OF THEIR, THEIR END STAGE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE, THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, UH, 118 YEARS AGO, HAS THE BALCONIES.
THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL AT THAT TIME.
THEY HOUSED LONG-TERM CARE PATIENTS, WHEELED 'EM OUT ON THE BALCONIES ON HOT SUMMER DAYS LIKE TODAY.
SO, BECAUSE THEY HAD DIDN'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, THOSE BALCONIES ARE FALLING DOWN.
YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UH, SO I ARRIVED ON THAT CAMPUS, UH, IN 2010.
UH, AT THAT TIME, WE INSTALLED SCAFFOLDING, UH, TO HOLD THOSE BALCONIES UP.
THOSE BALCONIES WERE IN DANGER OF CRUMBLING AND BRINGING DOWN THE REST OF THE BUILDING.
UH, THOSE, THAT SCAFFOLDING REMAINS, UH, A PART OF THE FIXTURE OF THAT PROPERTY IN 2025.
UM, WE BEGIN, WE BEGIN TO NOTICE A COUPLE OTHER ISSUES, UH, ONE RELATED TO AIR QUALITY.
SO, UH, WE DO CONSTANT AIR TESTING IN THESE OLD BUILDINGS, AND WE BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE SOME CHALLENGES WITH THE AIR QUALITY.
IN ADDITION, UH, WE HAD STRUCTURAL ISSUES.
THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WAS BEGINNING TO CRUMBLE AS WELL, SO YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURES, UH, OF WHERE SOME OF THE CEILINGS ARE FALLING DOWN, UH, IN THE BUILDING.
SO WE IMMEDIATELY HAD TO VACATE PART OF THAT BUILDING, AND WE HAD TO MOVE OFFICES AND SOME OF THE SERVICES OF THAT LONG BUILDING INTO WHAT DOES OUR LONG-TERM CARE BUILDING.
LONG-TERM CARE CARE BUILDING WAS BUILDING IN 1996, SO IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A NEW BUILDING.
UH, BUT WHEN WE DID THAT, WE HAD TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WE COULD TAKE CARE OF LONG-TERM CARE.
WE CONSISTENTLY HAD CENSUSES 180, BUT WE HAD TO DROP IT DOWN TO ONE 30 BECAUSE WE HAD TO REPLACE, UH, THOSE ROOMS WITH, WITH SERVICES.
SO WE BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION, UH, ON THIS? YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED IN TIMING.
BUT THE FIRST THING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THAT WE HAVE TO TEAR DOWN, UH, THE TWO OLDEST BUILDINGS IN THAT.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE CAMPUS AS IT EXISTS NOW, WHICH IS ON THE, THE FAR LEFT, UH, WITH THOSE BUILDINGS, AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE ANTICIPATION IS THAT WE WOULD TEAR DOWN THE 1908 BUILDING AND THE 1928 BUILDING AND BEGIN TO REPLACE THE SERVICES IN A NEW MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING THAT WOULD BE LOCATED SOMEWHERE, UH, ON THE FRONT SIDE, UH, OR THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CAMPUS.
WHAT WE WOULD DO IN THAT BUILDING, THAT MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING, UH, IT WOULD, WE WOULD MOVE THE FAMILY MEDICINE PROGRAM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.
WE WOULD MOVE PHYSICAL THERAPY IN THE SPACE.
WE WOULD MOVE OUR CARDIOLOGY CLINICS, WE'D MOVE PODIATRY CLINICS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SPECIALTY CLINICS INTO THAT NEW MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING.
IT WOULD SIMPLY BE STATE OF THE ART, UH, AND WOULD BE DESIGNED TO FILL THE NEEDS OF THOSE CLINICS.
YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE WOULD BEGIN TO REFURBISH THE LONG-TERM CARE CENTER.
SO, AS I SAID, LONG-TERM CARE WAS BUILT IN 1996, AND IT WAS A, A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING TO HOUSE FOR, UH, OUR AGED POPULATION.
IT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 1996.
SO WE WOULD REFURBISH THAT MOVE CONSISTENTLY, A LOT OF THOSE SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS TO PRIVATE ROOMS AND LONG-TERM CARE.
IN ADDITION, WE WOULD RELOCATE OUR RAYTOWN CLINIC.
UH, OUR RAYTOWN CLINIC IS IN VERY SUBSTANDARD SPACE.
MANY OF YOU HAVE VISITED, HAS TREMENDOUS PROVIDERS, PRACTITIONERS IN THAT CLINIC, BUT IT IS REALLY SUBSTANDARD SPACE.
WE WOULD ALSO EXPAND OUR CLINIC IN FAIR AMOUNT.
SO WE BUILT A CLINIC IN FAIR AMOUNT PROBABLY ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE SOME SHELL SPACE IN THAT.
THE DEMAND HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND IN FAIR AMOUNT.
WE WOULD BUILD THAT BACK AND EXPAND THAT.
WE WOULD ALSO BUILD A NEW DENTAL CLINIC.
THE DENTAL CLINIC IS LOCATED IN THE 1928 BUILDING.
UH, WE SERVE A TREMENDOUS LOW INCOME POPULATION WITH DENTAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY A MEDICAID CLIENTELE, WHICH CAN'T GET DENTAL SERVICES ELSE ELSEWHERE.
WE ALSO OPERATE A DENTAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM.
SO DENTISTS, UH, CAN RECEIVE FURTHER TRAINING PAST THEIR, THEIR DENTAL DEGREE.
UH, ALSO WHAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE DOING IS AT THE, THE HEALTH SCIENCES DISTRICT CAMPUS, UH, WE WOULD OPEN A NEW CARE NAVIGATION CENTER.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE FIND THAT WE HAVE CERTAIN NEEDS FOR OUR POPULATION THAT WE SERVE, UH, AT OUR HEALTH SCIENCES DISTRICT.
UH, WE OPERATE A FOOD PHARMACY.
WE WOULD OPERATE A MORE TARGETED PROGRAM CALLED FOOD AS PHARMACY, UH, IN THAT PROGRAM WHERE OUR PROVIDERS WOULD PROVIDE PRESCRIPTIONS, UH, FOR NUTRITION SERVICES, WHICH WE WOULD FULFILL AT OUR FOOD PHARMACY, UH, PLACE.
WE ALSO OPERATE THE STATE'S LARGEST WOMEN INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAM, UH, ON THAT CAMPUS.
WE WOULD MOVE THAT INTO NEW SPACE.
AND THEN A NEED THAT REALLY CAME ABOUT, UH, AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES IN MEDICAID, UH, WE WOULD HAVE TO EXPAND OUR FINANCIAL COUNSELING SERVICES, KNOWING THAT MEDICAID RECIPIENTS, UH,
[00:40:01]
WOULD HAVE TO PROVE BOTH, UH, ELIGIBILITY ON REDETERMINATION EVERY SIX MONTHS, AS WELL AS, UH, THE WORK REQUIREMENTS.SO THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD, UH, PROPOSE TO DO ON THE HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS.
THOSE SERVICES ARE MUCH, MUCH NEEDED.
SO WITH THAT, UH, I BELIEVE WHAT WE COULD DO IS RESTORE THE LAKEWOOD CAMPUS, UH, TO THIS REALLY, THE VISION THAT WAS PART OF THE COUNTY'S LEADERSHIP IN EIGHTEEN FIFTY ONE, A HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE YEARS AGO.
AND AT THE SAME TIME AT THE HEALTH SCIENCES DISTRICT CAMPUS, MEET SOME REALLY NEWFOUND NEEDS, UH, FOR THE POPULATION AS A RESULT OF RECENT LEGISLATION.
SO, IF WE FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS JUST GIVES KIND OF A, A LOOK AT WHAT THE FINANCING WOULD LOOK LIKE.
WE CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHAT $150 MILLION LOOK LIKE.
THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE HAVE TO STABILIZE THAT 1908 BUILDING, AND WE CALL IT THE PSB PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUILDING.
IN ADDITION, BECAUSE WE HAVE FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, AND DIETARY AND PHARMACY, WE WOULD'VE TO BUILD OUT A NEW SUPPORT SERVICES, BUILDING A NEW KITCHEN AND SERVERY.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THE UTILITIES RUN UNDERNEATH THE 1908 BUILDING.
SO WE'D HAVE TO RELO, RELOCATE, UH, UTILITIES, UH, FAIR AMOUNT, AS I SAID.
WE'D BUILD THE NEW MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING.
WE'D MOVE RAYTOWN IN THE DENTAL CLINIC.
UH, WE WOULD HAVE TO RESET THE GENERATORS, UH, FOR EMERGENCY POWER ON THE CAMPUS.
WE WOULD TEAR DOWN THE PUBLIC SERVICE BUILDING.
UH, WE'D PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PARKING, UH, WHERE THE PSB BUILDING IS NOW.
UH, WE WOULD UPGRADE THE PUBLIC SPACES, AND PARTICULARLY THE PATIENT ROOMS TO ALL, UH, PRIVATE ROOMS AND LONG-TERM CARE.
AND THEN WE WOULD FINALLY TEAR DOWN, UH, THE 1928 BUILDING.
UH, I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, UH, WITHIN, UH, THE $150 MILLION, BUT THIS IS OUR PLAN ON HOW WE WOULD SPEND THE MONEY.
SO HOW DO YOU DO THIS AND HOW DO YOU MAKE IT REVENUE NEUTRAL FOR THE COUNTY? WELL, WE HAVE BONDS THAT GO BACK TO THE 2006, UH, BUILDING AT THE LAKEWOOD CAMPUS THAT ARE CLOSING IN ON MATURITY.
WE WOULD ALLOW THOSE BONDS TO MATURE AND BE RETIRED.
WE WOULD REPLACE THAT WITH NEW DEBT, UH, TO COVER THE $150 MILLION PLUS, UH, FOR THE CAMPUS.
UH, AND THEN WE PROPOSE SERVICING THAT NEW DEBT ENTIRELY FROM THE EXISTING $10 MILLION OF OPERATING FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY.
WE THINK IT'S, UH, REALLY UNIQUE IN WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY AND PEOPLE FOR DOWNTOWN, UH, IN KANSAS CITY AT THE HEALTH SCIENCES DISTRICT.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS, UM, I GREW UP, UH, IN INDEPENDENCE.
UM, I TOOK THE JOB WITH UNIVERSITY HEALTH, THEN TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTERS, UH, IN 2010.
AND I STARTED, UM, AT THE LAKEWOOD CAMPUS.
UH, AND I LOVE THE LAKEWOOD CAMPUS.
I WAS AMAZED AT THE VISION THAT THE COUNTY LEADERSHIP THAT STARTED THAT CAMPUS 175 YEARS AGO, UH, WHEN THEY BOUGHT THAT, WHAT THAT VISION LOOKED LIKE AND WHAT IT HAS BECOME NOW.
I THINK THIS PLAN IS EQUALLY VISIONARY TO WHAT HAPPENED 175 YEARS AGO.
I I THINK IT GOES A LONG, LONG WAY TOWARD IMPROVING THE HEALTH, UH, AND THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY.
UH, WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE COUNTY'S HOSPITAL, AND I THINK THIS WOULD SERVE US VERY WELL AND BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MR. EXECUTIVE, YOU WANNA TAKE QUESTIONS NOW FOR THIS? UH, WE CAN TAKE QUESTIONS NOW OR IF, IF CHARLIE WILL STAY HERE WITH ME.
LET'S HEAR FROM, UH, OUR CAPITAL.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE CHARLIE AND PHIL SHOW AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS HERE IN A MINUTE.
SO, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, UH, WHEN, UH, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM STARTED TALKING TO ME ABOUT IT, UH, AND THEY WANTED THIS MU MONEY, MY JAW DROPPED.
LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AND THE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX OF BONDS EXPIRING AND ISSUING NEW BONDS WHEN WE WERE ALREADY SUPPLYING THE $10 MILLION TO THE, THE HOSPITAL'S SYSTEM EVERY YEAR.
ANYWAY, HOW DO WE DO THAT? AND SO, UH, CHARLIE SHARED THIS WITH ME.
I SAID, WELL, LET'S GET, LET'S TALK TO SOME PEOPLE.
I CAN'T COUNT TO 10 WITHOUT USING ALL MY FINGERS.
SO WE HAVE OUR PROFESSIONAL, UM, I'D LIKE TO BRING ON BOARD JAMES PRITCHARD TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF COLUMBIA CAPITAL.
JAMES, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, ABSOLUTELY CAN.
I WANT I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN TO ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM HOW WE GET $150 MILLION TO MAKE THESE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM, AND IT'S NOT A, A REVENUE INCREASE FOR THE PEOPLE OF JACKSON COUNTY.
HAPPY TO, TO TALK ABOUT THE PLAN FINANCE HERE.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY LEGISLATURE, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UM, SO JIM PRITCHER WITH COLUMBIA CAPITAL.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, COUNTY STAFF FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, UM, GOING BACK AND FORTH AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A, A BOND STRUCTURE AND A PLAN OF FINANCE THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY.
[00:45:01]
AND, YOU KNOW, AT A HIGH LEVEL, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE DESIGNED IS A PLAN TO PROVIDE A LARGE AMOUNT OF UPFRONT BOND PROCEEDS, UM, WITHOUT HAVING TO COME UP WITH ANY TYPE OF NEW OR, UH, NEW SOURCE OF FUNDING.AND, AND THE REASON, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IS, IS WHAT, UH, UH, CEO CHARLIE SHIELDS JUST, UH, TALKED ABOUT IN HIS PRESENTATION A LITTLE BIT BIT.
UM, WHAT WE FOUND IN WORKING WITH COUNTY STAFF IS THAT, UM, THE COUNTY HAS HISTORICALLY PROVIDED $10 MILLION OF ANNUAL SUPPORT TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH.
UM, A PORTION OF THAT SUPPORT HAS BEEN SUPPORTING TWO SERIES OF BONDS, SPECIFICALLY SERIES 2012 IN SERIES 2021, UM, THAT WAS ISSUED FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH PURPOSES.
UM, THAT HAS TAKEN UP ROUGHLY HALF OF THE, OF THE 10 MILLION.
UM, AND LIKE WAS MENTIONED, FORTUNATELY HERE, BOTH OF THOSE SERIES OF BONDS MATURE NEXT YEAR IN 2027.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'VE DONE UNDER OUR PROPOSED, UH, BOND STRUCTURE IS WE WOULD HAVE DEBT SERVICE NEXT YEAR IN 2027, UH, BE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION.
SO YOU'RE STILL USING THE, THE ORIGINAL MONIES FOR THE EXISTING DEBT THAT MATURES.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE DEBT SERVICE WOULD BE ABOUT $10 MILLION EACH YEAR, A A LEVEL AMOUNT, UM, THROUGH, THROUGH 2056.
SO IT WOULD BE A 30 YEAR BOND.
UM, SO RATHER THAN THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, COMING UP WITH A, A NEW FUNDING SOURCE, WE'RE BASICALLY, UH, REDIRECTING THE ANNUAL SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDING SO THAT THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH HAS, HAS THE MONIES TO DO THIS.
UM, AND THE, THE A HUNDRED, THE ROUGHLY $150 MILLION THAT WAS REFERENCED, THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED WITH THE STRUCTURE, ACTUALLY CAN SUPPORT EVEN A, A SLIGHTLY LARGER, UH, AMOUNT IF NEEDED.
UM, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS DIAL, WE CAN SHORTEN THE, THE TRANSACTION TO SIZE DIRECTLY TO WHAT, WHAT IS NEEDED.
UM, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, THE BONDS WOULD BE ISSUED AS SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
UM, THESE ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BONDS, BECAUSE REALLY THE, THE SECURITY IS THE COUNTY, UH, AGREEING TO CONSIDER EACH YEAR TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR DEBT SERVICE.
SO THAT $10 MILLION OF ANNUAL SUPPORT YOU WOULD APPROPRIATE THAT TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON, ON THESE BONDS.
UM, THIS IS NOT A NEW STRUCTURE FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS EIGHT OTHER SERIES OF BONDS OUTSTANDING, INCLUDING THE TWO FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH.
AND, AND THOSE WERE ALL ISSUED AS SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
SO FROM A, A LEGAL AND CREDIT STRUCTURING PERSPECTIVE, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY HAS CONSISTENTLY USED, UH, FOR ITS EXISTING DEBT.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE FINANCING PROCESS, WE FORMALLY KICKED OFF THE TRANSACTION JUST LAST WEEK.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, GILMORE AND BELL AS BOND COUNSEL, AND THEY HAVE STARTED WORKING ON THE, THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS.
UM, THE NEXT MAJOR STEP, UH, FOR THE COUNTY WOULD BE, UH, THIS GOVERNING BODY TO CONSIDER A, A BOND ORDINANCE.
UM, AND WE, THE COUNTY IS ASKED REQUESTED THAT THAT BE PUT ON THE AUGUST 3RD MEETING.
UM, AND THAT BOND ORDINANCE WOULD ESTABLISH A SET OF PARAMETERS, UM, THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE GUARDRAILS ON, ON A FUTURE TRANSACTION.
SO IT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNTY STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A TRANSACTION IF WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE PARAMETERS THAT YOU WOULD APPROVE IN THIS ORDINANCE.
UH, PARAMETERS WOULD BE THINGS LIKE A NOT TO EXCEED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT.
IT WOULD BE LIKE A NOT TO EXCEED INTEREST RATE, UH, A NOT TO EXCEED FINAL MATURITY, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND SO WE WOULD ONLY, UM, BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THE FINANCING IF WE CAN MEET ALL OF THOSE PARAMETERS.
UM, IF THAT IS APPROVED AT THE AUGUST 3RD MEETING, THEN WE WOULD, UH, CONTINUE ON WITH THE FINANCING PROCESS, DRAFTING LEGAL DOCUMENTS, UH, PUTTING A RATING APPLICATION IN.
UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE, THE NUTS AND BOLTS THAT GO INTO PUTTING A FINANCING TOGETHER, WHICH TYPICALLY TAKES THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.
UM, BASED ON OUR SCHEDULE, WE WOULD, UH, SEEK TO PRICE THE BONDS, UH, IN LATE SEPTEMBER.
PRICING IS WHEN ALL OF THE, THE DETAILS OF THE BONDS GET SET SO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
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YOUR INTEREST RATE IS, YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH ANNUAL PAYMENTS ARE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.UM, AND THEN AFTER PRICING, IT DOES TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO FINALIZE ALL THE DOCUMENTS.
AND SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SCHEDULE, UH, IN OUR SCHEDULE.
WE HAVE AN OCTOBER 15TH AS OUR ASSUMED CLOSING DATE.
UM, AND WHEN AND CLOSING IS WHEN FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO BEGIN BEING SPENT ON THE PROJECT.
UM, SO THAT'S THE, THE PLAN OF FINANCE.
UM, OVERALL, UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.
UH, AND I'M THROWING A LOT AT YOU THERE.
THIS IS JUST AN INFORMATION PRESENTATION TO THE LEGISLATURE THERE.
UH, BUT WE ONLY HAVE A SHORT FIVE MONTHS TOGETHER
SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, AGAIN, THERE'S NO LEGISLATION BEFORE THIS BODY AT ALL.
IT'S TO TELL YOU WHAT WE CAN DO.
I HOPE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU, UH, CAN APPROVE AND, AND GET THAT, BUT I WOULD TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE FIRST ONE I'LL START WITH, UM, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LAND THAT'S ADJACENT TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH.
CAN YOU TALK ANY MORE ABOUT THAT? IF THERE'S NEED, IF THERE'S, UM, MAYBE THE ORIGINAL INTENT, IF YOU KNOW IT AS TO WHY WE HAVE THAT LAND? SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD, THE BEST IDEA WOULD BE TO HOLD ONTO THE LAND SURROUNDING THE LAKEWOOD CAMPUS FOR FUTURE USES THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE LAKEWOOD CAMPUS.
WHETHER THAT WOULD BE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, THAT THE DOLLARS WOULD BE DRIVEN INTO THE CAMPUS OR FROM SERVICES OR THINGS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE CAMPUS.
UM, YOU HAVE A, A REALLY BEAUTIFUL COUNTY ASSET, UH, AROUND THE LAKEWOOD CAMPUS, AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION BEFORE YOU ALLOW SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO IT.
AND SPECIFICALLY AS CHAIRMAN, THERE'S THE, THERE'S HUNDREDS OF ACRES DIRECTLY TO THE SOUTH OF THE FACILITY THAT, UH, HAD BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN YEARS PAST ABOUT A DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THE CITY OF LEE SUMMIT HAD BEEN INVOLVED.
UM, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS BODY AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH WORKS TOGETHER TO, UH, COMBINE AND FIGURE OUT HOW THAT LAND BEST SERVES UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE PARCEL OUT AND JUST, UH, GIVE TO ANOTHER DEVELOPER.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH UNIVERSITY HEALTH.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR THOUGHTS? OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT DISCUSSION, MR. EXECUTIVE MOORE FOR PRESENTATION.
UH, JUST BRIEFLY, I WANNA TAKE THE MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES BEFORE THIS BODY TODAY.
HOPE WE CAN GET WORKED ON THOSE.
WE GOT REVELATION 2, 2, 3, 5, 2 AUTHORIZING A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING RELATING TO A SETTLEMENT, A CIVIL CLASS ACTION.
I CAN'T STRESS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
THIS PROCESS OF FINALIZING TAX RELIEF.
UM, SPONSOR IS CHAIRMAN OF BARCA.
WE HAVE ORDINANCE 6 0 9 2 THAT'S APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO EXECUTE INFRASTRUCTURES.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH EACH OF YOU ABOUT THESE FOR GOING ABOUT SOME MONTHS NOW.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE GET THIS PASSED TO WORK ON OUR OWN PROJECTS IN JACKSON COUNTY AND FOR OVER 16 MUNICIPALITIES.
UM, I'M INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING OTHER ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, BUT THIS PART SHOULD NOT BE LONGER.
I'M HOPING WE CAN MOVE THAT, THAT THE SPONSOR OF THAT IS, UH, CHAIRMAN OF BARQUE AND LEGEND HUSKY.
UH, WE HAVE ORDINANCE 6 1 0 4 THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION, COST CENTER FUND RELATED TO COMBAT.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT, BUT I'M HOPEFUL IT CAN BE PERFECTED IN PASSED.
UM, WE HAVE RESOLUTION 2, 2 3, 3 7 THAT'S AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL LEASE FOR THE JACKSON COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE.
WE'VE BEEN KIND OF DEALING WITH THIS FOR A WHILE, SO I'M HOPING WE CAN, THAT CAN BE DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE, UH, TO GET THAT FIGURED OUT.
AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO HAVE RESOLUTION 2, 2, 3, 4 3 THAT'S TRANSFERRING MONEY FROM FUNDS TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE NEW COURTROOMS AND AREAS OF THE NEW DETENTION CENTER, AND FOR THE EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLES FOR SECURITY.
SO THIS IS NOT NEW FUNDING, IT'S JUST TRANSFERRING EXISTING FUNDS.
AND THIS IS A SECURITY ISSUE FOR THE COURTS AND FOR THE DE DETENTION CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, I JUST SPEAK TO THOSE JUST TO KIND OF IDENTIFY SOME OF THE, THE TOPICS YOU'LL BE DEALING WITH TODAY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME SURPLUS PROPERTY ISSUES TOO THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH ALSO.
MR. EXECUTIVE, WHICH SURPLUS PROPERTY ISSUES DID YOU BRING UP? WE HAD, THERE ARE, THERE ARE 2, 2, 3, 4 4, WHICH IS THE JACKSON COUNTY ELECTION BOARD BUILDING.
UH, THAT BUILDING IS NON-REPAIRABLE.
UH, WE WILL HAVE BUYERS LOOKING AT OR TO DEMOLISH IT OR SOMETHING, BUT AS WE UNDERSTAND THE SURPLUS PROPERTY ISSUE, WE CANNOT EVEN ENTERTAIN OFFICER UNLESS IT'S BEEN MADE SURPLUS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE SELL, IT DOESN'T MEAN THIS BODY DOESN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
I HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, LOOK, HERE'S WHAT I FOUND.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? THAT'S WHAT THE SURPLUS PROPERTY'S ABOUT.
THERE'S ALSO, UH, 2, 2, 3, 4 5 THAT ARE PARCELS TO BE CREATED BY HILLCREST GOLF CLUB.
IT'S PROPERTY SANDWICH BETWEEN HILLCREST AND THE BLUE RIVER UNUSABLE FOR ANYONE, BUT HILLCREST MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING.
UH, THERE'S 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, WHICH ARE FIVE VACANT PARCELS ON OR AROUND STRU THE ROAD, LEE SUMMIT NORTHWEST GREGORY.
[00:55:01]
THEY'RE NOT DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT THE PARCELS NEXT TO FAMILY COURT THAT LEGISLATIVE PEYTON DID NOT WANT US TO PURSUE ON.BUT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE DEFINITELY PROPERTY THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE ALLOWED SURPLUS AND SEE IF WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT MIGHT ENTERTAIN THAT.
2, 2, 3, 4 7 IS THE SPORTS COMMISSION BUILDING PARKING LOT.
THAT'S THE PROPERTY JUST SOUTH OF OUR 1300 WASHINGTON BUILDING, NOT THE 1300 WASHINGTON BUILDING, BUT THAT IS THAT OLD SPORTS COMMISSION BUILDING, UM, THAT'S ASSIGNED TO COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIC PLANNING.
UH, CHAIRMAN OF BAR IS THE CHAIRMAN THAT WE HAVE 2, 2, 3, 4 8, WHICH IS FIVE VACANT LOTS ON SOUTH LIBERTY INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI.
WE HAVE A LABOR UNION THAT'S INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THOSE LOTS TO BUILD A FACILITY ON.
AND THAT'S JUST SOUTH OF THE LARGE PARKING LOT, A LARGE COUNTY PARKING LOT.
SO, SO RIGHT NOW THE PEOPLE OF JACKSON COUNTY ARE WATCHING THIS COURTHOUSE, SO I'M HOPEFUL THIS BODY CAN SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE PROFESSIONALS, WE CAN GET THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS COMPLETED REGARDLESS OF TIMING OF ELECTIONS OR OTHER ISSUES.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE? UH, MR. EXECUTIVE, I, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, UM, FOR ADDRESSING ISSUES FROM LAST WEEK THAT ARE, UM, TIMELY AND IMPORTANT TO REACT FOR, UH, FOR THE SAKE OF THE BODY.
AND, UM, BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE, UH, HAS AGREED TO MOVING FORWARD ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, I HAD ASKED HIM TO TAKE SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION TO LOOK INTO SECURING THE CLERK SUITE, UH, WALLING OFF THE SPACE SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CLERK SUITE, UH, FOR COMING INTO THE BUILDING AFTER HOURS, AS WELL AS SECURING THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS, UM, FROM THE BACKEND ADJACENT TO OUR VISITOR'S GUEST, AND THEN KEYED ACCESS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE HALLWAY, IF YOU WILL, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
SO I THINK HE'S GONNA BRING SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT HERE, UH, FORTHCOMING LEE.
UM, BUT ALSO TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS, UM, AS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED, UM, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE USE OF OUR ACCESS IN OUR BADGES, UH, FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SUITE, UH, USING AS IT DEPARTMENT, UH, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS ISSUES AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND, AND THAT ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT ARE NECESSARY, UH, INCLUDING HR DEPARTMENTS AND, AND POSSIBLY LOOKING AT AN EMERGENCY ORDER, UM, TO BRING ON, UH, A HUMAN RESOURCES PERSON THAT IS UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE TO THE EX OR TO THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF THE BODY.
UM, AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE CHANGES, I THINK IT'S ALSO PRUDENT FOR US, UH, WITH COLLABORATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE TO LOOK AT POLICIES, UM, THAT I KNOW HIS STAFF IS WORKING ON BROADLY, BUT ALSO FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE.
THAT INCLUDES HOURS OF OPERATION, UH, INCLUDING A SEVEN TO SEVEN TIMEFRAME TO MAKE SURE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH THE EVENING DO NOT HAVE UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ALL SPACES.
UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MONITORING KEY CARDED ACCESS TO THIS BUILDING.
UH, AS WELL AS, UM, DEVICE USE THROUGHOUT WHEREVER THE LOCATIONS MAY BE, UH, WITH OUR IT DEPARTMENTS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT ALL GUESTS WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS HAVE, UM, FOLKS THAT ARE ESCORTING THEM.
AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ESTABLISHING, UH, THE PRINTER CODES, UM, THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR, I THINK SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE USING THE PRINTERS HAVE A DIRECT TIE INTO THOSE FOLKS, UM, THAT ARE, UM, MAKING THE PRINTS.
UH, THESE ARE SOME COMMON THINGS THAT I THINK ARE NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT THAT I, UH, APPRECIATE THE EXECUTIVE STEPPING IN TO HELP US WITH, UH, AS WELL AS THE OTHER GENERAL COUNSEL'S INVOLVEMENT AS WE NAVIGATE THE FUTURE ISSUES, UH, GOING FORWARD.
SO, MR. EXECUTIVE, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A TIMEFRAME ON SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION IDEAS THAT WERE SUGGESTED.
UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT THIS BODY DOES WITH OUR FUNDING, UH, THE FIRST FLOOR RENOVATION THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AND, AND I HAD A STANDSTILL FOR FUNDING, UM, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT TO WHAT THE FIRST FLOOR WHEN WE'RE FIXING, UH, THE JURY ROOM, HR AND ALL OUR SERVICES DOWN THERE, ADDING THAT CONSTRUCTION TO THE ISSUES THE LEGISLATURE HAS UP HERE IN THEIR OFFICES.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR THOUGHTS? ALL RIGHT.
[6 PERFECTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEE]
[6104 AN ORDINANCE appropriating $1,000,000.00 from the undesignated fund balance of the 2026 Anti-Crime Sales Tax Fund to create the Public Safety Education Cost Center Fund and authorizing the County Executive to execute a consulting agreement with TJP Strategies, LLC, of Kansas City, MO, at a cost to the County not to exceed $1,000,000.00.]
PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME THINGS OUT OF ORDER 'CAUSE OUR GUESTS ARE HERE 6 1 0 4, AND I BELIEVE GENERAL COUNSEL, IF YOU'VE GOT UPDATES YOU CAN BRING TO US RELATING TO COMBAT.THERE'S A PROPOSED FLOOR AMENDMENT THAT READS TRANSFERRING 500, $500,000 WITHIN AN APPROPRIATING $500,000 FROM THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE 2026 ANTI-CRIME SALES TAX FUND TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION COST CENTER FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO EXECUTE A CONSULTING AGREEMENT WITH TJP STRATEGIES, LLC OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
THE COST THE COUNTY NOT TO EXCEED $500,000.
AND THIS IS FROM LEGISLATOR HUSKY, UH, GENERAL COUNSEL.
IT'S IN LEGISLATURE AS A WHOLE.
LEGISLATURE AS A WHOLE GENERAL COUNSEL.
CAN YOU GIVE US JUST THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE ON THIS SINCE WE, UM, ARE TAKING THIS AS A FLOOR AMENDMENT AND HOW WE, I'M ASSUMING WE'D ADOPT THE FLOOR AMENDMENT BECAUSE THIS WAS, UM, WHAT'S IN, I GUESS FOR THE FIRST PERFECTION.
SO PROCESS OF HOW MANY NUMBERS NEED TO BE PASSED, THE BODY WOULD NEED TO ACCEPT THE FLOOR AMENDMENT WITH FIVE VOTES AND THEN CAN VOTE TO PERFECT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO WITH FIVE VOTES.
AND IF WE CHOOSE TO ADOPT SAME DAY, THAT WOULD ALSO
[01:00:01]
TAKE FIVE VOTES.UNLESS THERE'S NO OBJECTION, IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD TAKE SIX VOTES.
CAN SOMEBODY, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY TRANSMITTED THE AMENDMENT TO THE REMOTE MEMBERS, I SENT IT TO LEGISLATOR SMITH AND FRANKLIN.
I DID NOT SEE MCGEE AT THE TIME, BUT I WILL SEND IT TO HIM.
CAN CAN YOU JUST GO OVER WHAT THE MAIN CHANGES ARE? PRETTY OBVIOUS, BUT THE CHANGES ARE CHANGING THE AMOUNT FROM 1 MILLION TO 500,000.
UH, COMBAT, UM, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, YOU GUYS WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, FLOOR AMENDMENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THIS BODY.
WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO EVERYONE IN THE ROOM ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER.
UM, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE THAT, UH, MY ELECTED MELISSA JOHNSON COULD NOT BE HERE DUE TO SOME SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.
UM, SO UNFORTUNATELY YOU'RE STUCK WITH THE LESSER OF TWO PEOPLE TODAY.
UM, THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE PROUDLY REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY.
WE DO SO IN CRIMINAL MATTERS WHEN WE STAND WITH MOMS THAT ARE TEARFULLY, REMEMBERING THEIR CHILDREN.
AND WHEN WE WALK CHILD CHILDREN OUT OF COURTROOMS, WE ALSO DO IT WITH RESPECT TO MANAGING THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN MANAGING THIS COMBAT TAX STEWARDSHIP.
AS MY COLLEAGUE, UH, THE DIRECTOR OF COMBAT, MR. WOODARD REMINDED ME BEFORE THIS HEARING IS ABOUT PROPERLY EDUCATING THE ELECTORATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS REALLY DESIGNED TO DO TODAY.
IN THE CROWD, THERE WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM A NUMBER OF AGENCIES, TOO MANY TO NAME.
I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW BOTH, AND I THINK I'LL, I'LL USE THE WORDS OF ONE OF THE MEMBERS WHO SPOKE IN THAT THIS IS REALLY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE ELEMENT OF WORKING TO PROBLEM SOLVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ISSUES THAT IMPACT EVERYONE, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT ALSO IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY.
YOU HAD HOPE HOUSE, YOU HAD AMUS PLACE, CASA CPC, SYNERGY, UM, THE BOY SCOUTS, UM, JUST ON AND ON AND ON.
IN ADDITION TO THE FOLKS THAT MANAGE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS OF KCPD AND THE JACKSON COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED.
UM, AND THERE'S SO MANY MORE THAT ARE NOT ONLY RELYING ON THE TAX, BUT ALSO DEPENDING ON THE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION OF THE VOTING BODY.
THERE HAVE BEEN REAL STRIDES IN THIS COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, AND THOSE STRIDES INCLUDE A LOWERING OF HOMICIDE, HIGHER CLEARANCE RATES, MORE FILINGS ACROSS THE BOARD.
THIS TAX IS CRITICAL TO FUNDING THESE AGENCIES AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION ALSO THE COURTS, WHICH ARE NOT HERE.
BUT IN SPEAKING WITH THEM PRIOR TO THIS HEARING, I'M AUTHORIZED TO SAY THAT THEY ARE IN LINE WITH THE THINGS I'M ABOUT TO NOTE, WHICH IS THAT WITHOUT AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF IN INFORMATION AND EDUCATION OF THE VOTING POPULACE, THE TAX COULD BE IN JEOPARDY.
AND THAT JEOPARDY MEANS SERIOUS CUTS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THIS COUNTY.
THAT MEANS LAYOFFS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES, AND THESE AGENCIES THAT SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS SYSTEM.
THAT IN ONE INSTANCE, AS THE JACKSON COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE INDICATED, WOULD COVER 92% OF THEIR WORKFORCE.
THAT WOULD MEAN EFFECTIVELY CLOSING ONE AGENCY.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE PUBLIC BE PRESENTED WITH THE FULL AND FAIR INFORMATION TO AID THEM IN MAKING AN INFORMED CHOICE.
WE'VE HEARD THE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THE LEGISLATORS TRIP OUT ANY AND ALL REFERENCES SO AS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORDS IN THE ORDINANCE AS WELL AS THE CONTRACT THAT UNDERLINES IT, ACTUALLY MATCH OUR INTENTION HERE, WHICH IS TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS FOR EDUCATIONS ONLY.
WE HAVE LIKEWISE LOWERED THE AMOUNT OF THE ORDINANCE TO $500,000 WITH THE OPTION TO COME BACK TO THIS BODY SHOULD THERE BE A NEED FOR MORE.
SO THIS ORDINANCE, WE'RE ONLY SEEKING THE THING THAT WE STATE, WHICH IS THE ABILITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
WE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT THE DISCUSSION THAT THIS BODY HAS HAD WITH US REGARDING TJP.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON THAT BRIEFLY IF I COULD.
EVERY GROUP THAT WORKS IN THE SPACE THAT TJP DOES, UM, WOULD NATURALLY HAVE PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE WORKED FOR AND PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE WORKED AGAINST.
AND AS SUCH, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AGREEMENT MATCHES THE INTENT HERE, WHICH IS EDUCATION ONLY.
MOREOVER, THIS DECISION HAS BEEN PENDING FOR SOME TIME WITH RESPECT TO US PUTTING THIS BEFORE THIS BODY.
WE BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES A CHANCE TO NOT ONLY BE INFORMED, BUT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF TIME NECESSARY TO DIGEST THE INFORMATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, SINCE THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN MOVING ITS WAY THROUGH, IS IN SPEAKING WITH OUR PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE ARE APPRECIATIVE FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS AND ADVICE
[01:05:01]
TO ENSURE THAT WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO COMPLY WITH THE RELEVANT RULES.AND IN GOING THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS, WHILE WE DID NOT GO THROUGH THE BONFIRE MECHANISM, WE DID END UP USING A BIDDING SLUSHING PROCESS THAT WAS ES ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.
THAT INCLUDED REVIEWING THREE BIDS THAT WERE IN LINE WITH THE PROCESS.
AND THIS BID FROM TJP WAS THE LOWEST.
THE ONLY OTHER BID THAT SUBMITTED A NUMBER WAS DOUBLE WHAT TJP WAS.
AND THE FINAL BID DID NOT ACTUALLY SUBMIT A NUMBER, WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CERTAINTY FOR THIS BODY.
SO THIS WAS THE CHEAPEST BID THAT WAS IN PLACE.
AND IN TERMS OF PRICING, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WITH RESPECT TO THE $500,000 NUMBER, THAT IS NOT A BLANK CHECK FOR TJP.
WHAT THAT IS IS THAT TJP IS IN LINE TO INVOICE US AT ABOUT, I THINK, A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THEIR WORK IN A TRUNCATED TIMEFRAME BEFORE THE ELECTION.
SO THE REMAINDER OF THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE WOULD BE DIRECTLY USED TO PUSHING THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE VOTING PUBLIC TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WE HAVE A VERY ADVANCED ELECTORATE IN JACKSON COUNTY, AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
THEY'RE INFORMED OF THE ISSUES, AND WE THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING AN IMPORTANT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES.
SO SUBSTANTIVELY, WE ALSO THINK THAT TJP SHOULD BE THE SELECTION BECAUSE OF THEIR USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH REACHES NOT ONLY VOTERS ACROSS WIDE SPECTRUM, SPECIFICALLY YOUNG VOTERS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE ROLE OF BEING VOTERS AND MEMBERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
TJP ALSO WORKED ON THE KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SAFETY TAX, WHICH SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO OBVIOUSLY PUSH OUT INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THESE TYPES OF PUBLIC INITIATIVES THAT DEAL WITH TAX AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
IN CLOSING, I, I WANNA NOTE SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE CLEAR, WHICH IS THAT THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WILL PROUDLY CARRY THIS FIGHT FOR OUR AGENCIES AND FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THIS COUNTY.
NO MATTER WHAT COMES OF THIS SPECIFIC ORDINANCE.
I WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP HERE, UM, AND SPOKE THEIR WORDS ARE MEANINGFUL TO ME, KNOWING WHAT WE GO THROUGH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WITH RESPECT TO MAINTAINING THE PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN THIS COUNTY.
AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR TIME IN DOING SO.
WE APPRECIATE THIS BODY'S WORK, UM, AND YOUR WORK AND YOUR PUBLIC STEWARDSHIP OF NOT ONLY THE FUNDS, BUT ALSO THE TRUST OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN US AND THE MEMBERS WHO SPOKE HERE IN PASSING THIS SPECIFIC ORDINANCE, I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BODY HAVE, AND I'LL ENDEAVOR TO DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, AS DIRECTOR OF JACKSON COUNTY COMBAT, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY SPEAK TO YOU ALL TODAY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
UM, TODAY'S ACTION IS NOT ABOUT ADVOCACY.
UH, IT IS ABOUT EDUCATION TRANSPARENCY AND ENSURING VOTERS HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT THEY CREATED NEARLY 35 YEARS AGO.
UM, I HEARD LEGISLATOR SMITH WITH RESPECT TO WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
SO I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'M MOVED AT LISTENING TO THE AGENCIES TALK ABOUT THE AMAZING IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS.
WHAT I WILL DO IS SKIP DOWN TO TALKING ABOUT WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AND THE REALITY IS THAT MANY OF THESE AGENCIES SPEND THEIR TIME DOING THE WORK, SERVING THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE NOT MARKETING AGENCIES.
THEY'RE NOT SPENDING TIME ACTUALLY TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE AMAZING WORK, BUT ACTUALLY DOING IT.
AND AT COMBAT, WE'RE SPENDING OUR TIME MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO.
BUT EVERY SEVEN TO 10 YEARS, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO EDUCATE AND INFORM COMMUNITY ABOUT WHERE THERE'S TACK DOLLARS HAVE GONE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
I APPRECIATE THE WORDS OF DIONNE EXPRESSING THE, THE, THE, THE REAL IMPACT OF THESE DOLLARS.
NOT GOING TO THIS PARTICULAR AGENCY, BUT ACTUALLY GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN FORM OF, UH, EDUCATING THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT NOT ONLY IF, IF THEY'RE ON DRUGS WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET HELP IF THEY'RE VICTIMS OF CRIME, WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET SERVED.
THIS IS ALL IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO GET OUT TO THEM.
BUT I THINK ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME THIS WAS UP FOR RENEWAL.
MANY OF OUR AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE DEALING WITH REDUCTION IN FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, WHICH MEANS THESE AGENCIES ARE MORE DEPENDENT ON COMBAT FUNDING TODAY THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN.
ALSO, WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE AND GOVERNMENT IS ALSO SHIFTING RIGHT NOW.
UM, VOTERS ARE ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT TAXES AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
AND WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE, UH, THE FACTS AND NOT JUST ASSUMPTIONS.
[01:10:01]
I DON'T WANNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING BECAUSE THEY COVERED A LOT, BUT I THINK THE GREATEST RISK FOR US, IT'S NOT INVESTING IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.IF VOTERS DON'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COMBAT DOES, THEY CANNOT FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT IS AT STAKE.
THE COST OF LOSING THIS, UH, DEDICATED PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING WOULD FAR EXCEED THE INVESTMENT WE ARE ASKING YOU ALL TO MAKE TODAY.
UM, GENERAL COUNSEL, CAN YOU GIVE US A, UM, UNDERSTANDING WHAT MAY BE A CONFLICT HERE? RIGHT.
UH, THE REALITY THAT ALL OF US HAVE RUN CAMPAIGNS AT SOME POINT FOR THE VARIOUS SEATS THAT WE SIT IN.
UM, THE ILLUSION THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE IS THAT TJP HAS, UM, MADE SOME FOLKS MAD UP HERE.
UM, AND WHAT IS AND ISN'T NECESSARILY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, UM, AS MUCH AS OPINION ABOUT THE FIRM ITSELF.
AND THEN ALSO IF YOU CAN GIVE US, UM, SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS UTILIZED, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN TELL US OR MR. EXECUTIVE IF THERE'S PREFERENCE ON THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS THAT WAS USED.
NOT NOT SPECULATIVE APPROACH OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT EXACTLY HAS HAPPENED WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, BUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION GOING FORWARD IN THE DISCUSSION.
MS. MILLER HAND HANDLE THIS PART 'CAUSE SHE WAS MORE AWARE OF WHAT WAS DONE IN THE
AS FAR AS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IT WOULD REALLY BE UP TO ANY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE IF THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
UM, I'M NOT AWARE OF, UH, NO ONE HAS BROUGHT TO US ANY CONCERNS THAT, THAT THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR THAT THEY BELIEVE SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
I, I, I'M SURE ALL, ANY OF THE THREE ENTITIES THAT RESPONDED PROBABLY ARE ENTITIES THAT ALSO DO OTHER POLITICAL, UM, WORK WITHIN GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S ONLY SO MANY OF THESE IN IT, THE AREA.
SO IF IT'S, IT'S REALLY UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER.
IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO DISCLOSE.
BUT NO ONE IS BROUGHT TO ME, OR I BELIEVE BRIAN, ANY, UM, ANY CONCERN NO.
OF A SPECIFIC MEMBER THAT HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
SO IF, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE CAN'T OPINE ON THAT.
CAN I ASK ALAR CLARIFYING QUESTION? SURE.
SO, UM, UH, IF A MEMBER CURRENTLY EMPLOYS THIS FIRM IN THEIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, COULD THAT BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? UM, POTENTIALLY.
I, IF, IF, AND I JUST LEARNED THIS MYSELF IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS, BUT IF, IN MY CASE, MY POLITICAL OPPONENT MM-HMM
IS EMPLOYING THIS FIRM, UH, MY, MY BEST GUESS IS I SHOULD ABSTAIN BECAUSE I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE NO ON THIS FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
UM, UH, BUT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A NO VOTE BY ME COULD ALSO BE SEEN AS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
I THINK THAT IS A, A FAIR ANALYSIS THAT EVERY MEMBER WITH A CONNECTION SUCH AS THE ONE YOU JUST, UM, YOU JUST DESCRIBED, SHOULD, SHOULD CERTAINLY DO.
AND I THINK THAT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT EVERY MEMBER WHO HAD ANY MEMBER WHO HAS A TIE LIKE THAT DO THAT SAME ANALYSIS YOU JUST DID.
AND I THINK THAT IS THE CORRECT ONE.
UM, AND IF SOMEBODY EMPLOYED THEM TO GET ELECTED TO THE SEAT THAT THEY'RE IN NOW, COULD THAT BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? I, IF THEY'RE NO LONGER UNDER CONTRACT, I DON'T SEE WHERE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, BUT I WOULD MEAN WE'D HAVE TO REVIEW IT, I GUESS MORE.
BUT I, I DON'T SEE THAT IF THEY'RE NOT, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CLEAR.
'CAUSE I, I MEAN, I HAVEN'T EMPLOYED THEM.
I'VE STATED WHAT MY POTENTIAL ISSUE IS MM-HMM
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO BE A LITTLE MORE DIRECT IN WHAT MIGHT CONSTITUTE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR NOT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD ABOUT THAT.
I, I THINK MY POINT WOULD BE, WITHOUT ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON ANY MEMBER, I, I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY, YES THAT IS, OR NO, THAT ISN'T.
BUT I WOULD ALL, MUCH LIKE ANY OTHER SCENARIO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO, TO DO THE SAME CONSIDERATION THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE DONE.
AND IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THIS ENTITY, THEN I THINK THAT IS A FAIR ANALYSIS TO HAVE.
BUT REALLY, WHETHER, I MEAN, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CONFLICT YOURSELF OFF OF A VOTE IS A DECISION THAT A MEMBER MAKES.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO, TO DO THAT ANALYSIS BEFORE VOTING SIMILAR TO THE ONE YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO IS GOING TO BE CONFLICTED OUT? BECAUSE I THINK WE OUGHT TO GIVE IT TO THE PROSECUTORS AN OPPORTUNITY IF THERE'S MORE CONFLICTS THAN NOT MM-HMM
A CHANCE TO GO AND MODIFY THAT IF NEED BE.
SO, IS ANYONE ELSE CONFLICTED FOR WHATEVER REASON OF THIS TJP STRATEGIES? LLC.
SO SECOND THAT I BELIEVE THE SECOND QUESTION WAS ABOUT PROCUREMENT.
THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THE PROCUREMENT PROCESSES.
[01:15:01]
IS THAT THERE WERE, UM, THERE WERE OTHER BIDS THAT WERE TAKEN, THREE BIDS, I BELIEVE THERE WAS A REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWED THEM AND, UH, DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS THE LOWEST AND BEST BID.I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AS IT WENT THROUGH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S UP TO THIS BODY TO DETERMINE WHAT THIS BODY BELIEVES YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, BUT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
SO I HAD A CONFLICTING, UM, OPINION FROM OUR AUDITOR WHO I THINK IT'S HIS JOB TO INTERPRET COUNTY POLICY AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, UH, I'LL JUST SAY IT, UM, IT, IT APPEARED THAT THIS VIOLATED OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESSES BECAUSE THE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS FOR NOT USING A BROAD, UM, WAY TO INTAKE PROPOSALS AND OFFERS FROM THE PUBLIC, UM, WAS LIMITED TO JUST A FEW FIRMS THAT WERE PRESELECTED.
UM, THAT'S ALLOWABLE UNDER VERY NARROW CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THIS DON'T SEEM TO COMPLY WITH.
UM, IS, DID, DID I FAIRLY CHARACTERIZE THAT? YES.
DO YOU ALL WANNA TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OR YOUR METHODS? I I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BY ANY MEANS, BUT JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE UNDERSTANDING.
AND I THINK THAT I, I TRIED TO ADDRESS IT IN MY OPENING REMARKS ABOUT IT.
UM, I THINK THAT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE, WE DID OUR BEST IN TERMS OF TRYING TO, TO COMPLY WITH IT.
OBVIOUSLY WE DID NOT USE THE BONFIRE PROCESS, BUT WE DID TRY TO GET MULTIPLE BIDS, GO THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS AND TRY TO PRESENT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE, WAS THE MOST ECONOMICALLY, UH, BENEFICIAL ONE TO THE, THE COUNTY ITSELF, AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT WE TRIED TO CLEAR EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO, UM, THAT IS THE INFORMATION WE HAVE ON IT.
UH, MR. EXECUTIVE, ANYTHING FROM PROCUREMENT SIDE OR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAMPAIGNS, RUNNING CAMPAIGNS.
THIS ISN'T JUST LIKE, UH, BIDDING OUT JANITORIAL SERVICE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS, UH, TO DO, TO DO A BROAD ACROSS THE BOARD.
ANYBODY WANTS TO APPLY TO THIS.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT AGENCIES AND, AND COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH CAMPAIGN ISSUES AND THESE THREE THAT SUPPLIED HAVE A, A BACKGROUND AND A TRACKER OF BEING SUCCESSFUL IN CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
SO I THINK IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT AS EASY JUST TO SAY, UH, IT'S NOT LIKE THE USUAL PROCUREMENT, UH, PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF THE SERVICES THESE COMPANIES ARE PROVIDING.
UH, PROSECUTOR SIDE UP, CAN I GO AHEAD, VICE CHAIR.
SO, SO YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T USE BONFIRE AND JUST WENT TO THESE THREE AGENCIES AND ASKED THEM FOR BIDS.
WW WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST USE BONFIRE AS WOULD BE TYPICAL FOR A LARGE CONTRACT LEGISLATOR SMITH? I'M NOT SURE THAT I WOULD HAVE THAT DIRECT INFORMATION FOR YOU IN FRONT OF ME TODAY.
UM, WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE PROCESSES IS THAT WE DID HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH PROCUREMENT THEMSELVES TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS APPROPRIATE, AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS DOES MATCH THE PROCESS.
SO THAT, THAT IS THE ANSWER THAT I, THAT I HAVE WITH RESPECT TO IT.
SO I DON'T HAVE A, A SEPARATE ANSWER.
SO IF OUR AUDITOR WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNTY'S FOLLOWING OUR PUBLICIZED POLICIES SAYS IT'S NOT, DOES THAT NOW GIVE YOU PAUSE? IT DOES NOT GIVE ME PAUSE.
UM, AND I, I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING IT BEFORE THIS BODY FOR ITS CONSIDERATION, UM, AND WE'RE DOING IT IN THE OPEN AND THE MOST OBVIOUS WAY THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO WEIGH IN ON IT.
UM, CERTAINLY WE RESPECT THE, THAT THEY ARE GONNA BE DIFFERENT OPINIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROCESS.
BUT IF WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND WE MET WITH PROCUREMENT, WE WOULD BELIEVE THAT WE WERE FALLING UNDERNEATH THE RIGHT RAMIFICATIONS.
CAN I INQUIRED THE TIMEFRAME OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU ALL UTILIZED? I MEAN, WAS WHAT QUANTITY OF DAYS DID YOU USE? SORRY, IF I MISSED THAT EARLIER, I I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, BUT, UM, IF IT IS IMPORTANT TO THIS BODY, WE CAN CERTAINLY RUN DOWN THAT INFORMATION, BUT I DO NOT HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME AT THIS VERY MOMENT.
MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROSECUTOR ALSO CHECKED IN WITH FOLKS AS WELL TO ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THE PROCESS AND ABOUT THE EFFORTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE UNDERTAKEN.
ANY, ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT? YES, THAT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT ACCURATE, SIR.
UM, I JUST HAVE A, A FEW QUESTIONS MORE SO ABOUT THE BIDDING PROCESS.
AND I DON'T WANNA REPEAT WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN STATED OR, OR ASKED.
UM, BUT KNOWING NOW, UH, AND THIS IS NEWS TO ME, THAT THE PROCESS FOR BIDDING WENT OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMON PRO PRACTICE OF USING BONFIRE.
UM, HOW WERE THE, THE ORGANIZATIONS OR COMPANIES THAT RESPONDED TO THE BID, HOW WERE THEY NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS EVEN A PROCESS THAT WAS HAPPENING?
SO, AGAIN, I MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO, OH, SORRY.
I WAS GONNA SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT, IT LOOKS LIKE OUR PROSECUTOR HAS TRIED TO RAISE HER HAND.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA DEFER TO THANK YOU.
AND I, YES, IF EVERYBODY COULD HEAR ME, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND NOISE.
UM, THIS PROCESS, ALL IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS THAT
[01:20:01]
WE DID FOLLOW UNDER THE ADVISEMENT OF PROCUREMENT TOOK, UM, ALMOST A MONTH.UM, WE, UM, PUT OUR FEELERS OUT.
WE ASKED AROUND AND SAW WHO HAD CAPACITY BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ELECTIONS COMING UP, AND CERTAIN COMPANIES JUST DIDN'T HAVE CAPACITY TO RUN A COUNTYWIDE CAMPAIGN OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
AND SO WE MADE CALLS, WE SENT EMAILS, AND THAT IS HOW WE LANDED ON THESE THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT, UM, DID FORMALLY SUBMIT A BID.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED THAT TWO OF THE COMPANIES DID COME BACK WITH ACTUAL MONETARY FIGURES.
THE THIRD DID NOT, WHICH WE DID VIEW AS SOMEWHAT DISQUALIFYING, BECAUSE AS DION MENTIONED, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAD AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT WE WERE ASKING YOU ALL TO DO.
SO ALL IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TOOK ABOUT A MONTH.
UM, THAT INCLUDED OUR ABILITY TO MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT WE ASSEMBLED TO PICK WHO WAS THE BEST ONE.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, WE LANDED ON TJP FOR A LOT OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, THEIR HISTORY LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE EASILY DIGESTIBLE WAY.
THAT, THAT DIDN'T ANSWER MY, MY SPECIFIC QUESTION WAS HOW, HOW WERE THE ONES WHO RESPONDED, HOW WERE THEY NOTIFIED? THEY WERE NOTIFIED VIA PHONE AND EMAIL.
SO WERE THEY SPECIFICALLY SELECTED TO CALL? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
HOW, HOW, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT SINCE WE WENT OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL PROCESS, HOW DID THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ENSURE THAT ALL THE COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT THAT CAN PROVIDE THESE TYPES OF SERVICES WERE NOTIFIED SO THEY COULD APPLY AS WELL? I, I, I MENTIONED THAT WE CALLED VARIOUS COMPANIES IN CUTER THE PARK AIR ADVISORY GROUP, TJP, UM, OF COURSE, UM, TWO OF THE OTHER PEOPLE PUBLIC PROGRESS.
AND WE CALLED PEOPLE TO NUMBER ONE, TO SEE IF THEY HAD THE CAPACITY.
AND IF THEY SAID THEY HAD THE CAPACITY, WE ASKED THEM TO SUBMIT A BID.
SO AGAIN, VIA PHONE AND EMAIL IS HOW PEOPLE WERE INFORMED THAT WE WERE ON THE PROUD FOR A POLITICAL CONSULTING COMPANY TO RUN ATTACKS LIKE THIS, AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
I, I'M JUST, UH, I GUESS I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO IF ANYBODY COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN LEFT OUT SINCE WE WENT OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL PROCESS.
UH, THAT WAS, THAT'S MY CONCERN.
UM, AND IT STATES IN THE, THE, AND THIS QUESTION IS FOR WHOEVER CAN ANSWER IN THE ROOM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ROOM, UH, IS TJP STRATEGIES IN THE ROOM? I, I CAN'T SEE IF THEY ARE OR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THEM PROSECUTORS TEAM, THE MADAM PROSECUTOR? NO, I DO NOT BELIEVE SO.
UM, SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, THE, THE SCOPE OF TJ P'S, UH, PROPOSAL, HAS THAT CHANGED BEFORE THE AMOUNT OF THE BID CHANGED? BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TODAY, AND I HAVE REVIEWED THAT.
HAS THE SCOPE OF THEIR PROPOSAL CHANGED SINCE THEIR AMOUNT HAS BEEN NEARLY CUT IN HALF OR CUT IN HALF THE, UM, MADAM LEGISLATOR? I WOULD SAY NO.
UM, BECAUSE OUR INTENT WAS ALWAYS TO HAVE THEM SPECIFICALLY AND STRICTLY RUN A EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
NOW, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WITH TJB, THE DRAFT CONTRACT BEFORE YOU WAS A FORM CONTRACT THAT WE DID NOT MAKE ANY EDITS TO.
HOWEVER, BASED OFF OF FEEDBACK FROM THE LEGISLATURE, WE HAVE CLEANED THAT CONTRACT UP.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING REMOTING RELATED TO ADVOCACY IN THAT CONTRACT.
SO THE INTENT WAS ALWAYS TO BE EDUCATIONAL.
BUT NOW I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU MORE SPECIFICALLY AND ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT OUR DESIRE GOAL WITH TJP IS.
SO THEIR SCOPE DID NOT CHANGE THE CONTRACT BID, THOUGH.
WAS THERE ANYTHING BEYOND AN EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE IN THEIR SCOPE? NO, THERE WAS NOT.
AND SO THE, WITH THE BID NOW BEING, BEING, OR THEIR PROPOSAL NOW BEING, UH, $500,000, DOES THAT MAKE THEIR PROPOSED AMOUNT LOWER THAN ANY OF THE OTHERS THAT BID ON THIS PROPOSAL? YES, IT STILL DOES, BECAUSE THE NEXT WAS DOUBLE OF THAT, WHAT TJ ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED, AND I DO WANNA CLARIFY FOR THIS BODY J'S PROPOSAL WAS NOT A MILLION DOLLARS, NOR IS IT 500,000.
THEY'RE INVOICING US THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THEIR CONSULTING FEES.
NOW, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE PLAN TO SPEND THIS ALLOCATION ON ARAB SUBCONTRACTS FOR PRINTERS, PRINTING T-SHIRTS, UH, BROCHURES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND SO WE HAD NEVER PLANNED TO SPEND THE FULL MILLION, BUT WE JUST KNEW WITH THE TIME CRUNCH, WE DIDN'T WANNA KEEP, HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK BEFORE THIS BODY.
AND THEN ANYTHING THAT WAS LEFT, THE REMAINDER WOULD GO BACK INTO THE COMBAT RESERVES, UM, WHICH IS WHERE WE GOT THIS MONEY FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO IT WAS NEVER OUR INTENT TO SPEND A MILLION, WE ARE GOING TO
[01:25:01]
DO OUR BEST TO GET IT DONE UNDER 500,000.BUT THE, THE ORIGINAL, UH, REASON FOR THE COST WAS SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY.
WELL, I JUST WANNA JUST STATE CLEARLY THAT THAT IS A CONCERN OF MINE IF WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE OF THE AMOUNT.
UM, BUT SINCE IT WAS MENTIONED WITH JUST SPEAKING IN TERMS OF THEIR CONTRACT AND WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR CONTRACT, UM, THE CONTRACT STATES THAT THE AGREEMENT, UH, BEGINS JUNE THE 12TH.
UH, BUT FURTHER DOWN, IT STATES THAT THE FEE STRUCTURE BEGINS APRIL THE FIRST.
UH, AND SO JUST A CONCERN THERE WITH, WITH WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH THIS ORDINANCE, UM, THAT, THAT THE CONTRACT STATES SOME TYPE OF RETROACTIVE PAYMENT.
UH, SO MY CONCERN NOW IS COULD THEY HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN DOING WORK ON CONTRACTING THAT NOW WE WE'RE, WE'RE RETROACTIVELY MAKING PAYMENTS FOR, UM, WHICH WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO STATUTORILY.
UH, SO THAT IS A CONCERN OF MINE THAT THE CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED.
UM, BUT WITH RESPECT TO THE BIDDING PROCESS, UM, HOW WAS THE, HOW LONG WAS THE, THE BIDDING PROCESS? I, I BELIEVE YOU SAID IT WAS, IT WAS A MONTH, UH, FROM FEBRUARY WHEN IT WENT OUT.
DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROCESS TOOK ABOUT A MONTH.
THAT INCLUDED US CONTACTING PEOPLE, THE PERIOD FOR PEOPLE TO SUBMIT BIDS AND OUR COMMITTEE MEETING TO, UH, DECIDE WHO WAS THE BEST BID.
AND IF I JUST MAY BRIEFLY RESPOND TO YOUR PRIOR POINT, IF THAT IS OKAY WITH YOU LEGISLATOR? YEAH, WELL, GIMME ONE MORE SECOND.
I DON'T WANNA LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
SO DURING THAT MONTH, WAS THE SCORING ALSO DONE AS WELL OF THE SCORING TEAM, OR WAS THAT PROCESS DONE DIFFERENTLY? NO, DURING THAT MONTH, THE COMMITTEE, UH, DID SCORE THE VARIOUS BIDS AND DECIDED WHO WAS THE BEST ONE.
DO WE HAVE THOSE SCORING SHEETS AND THE SCORING TEAM INFORMATION? LIKE WE, I MEAN, WE TYPICALLY GET THAT WITH, WITH CONTRACTS.
UM, DO WE HAVE THAT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO VIEW THE SCORING? I CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED ON THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.
HOWEVER, UM, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE USED ANY FORM SCORING RUBRIC, UM, THAT WE RECEIVED FROM PROCUREMENT TO FURTHER THE PROCESS.
WE JUST DECIDED BASED ON THE TOTALITY OF THE INFORMATION, WHO WAS THE BEST.
SO THAT, THAT, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE, THE LARGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW.
HOW CAN WE ENSURE AS A LEGISLATURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SOURCE DOCUMENTS, CERTAINLY FOR THE SCORING AND HOW THE TEAM, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, CAME UP WITH THEIR SCORES AND THEN THEREFORE SELECTING TJ'S P STRATEGIES IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT IS COMMON PRACTICE FOR US AS A BODY.
UM, AND TO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
UM, I KNOW FOR MYSELF, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED VOTE ON WHETHER TJP STRATEGIES IS IN FACT THE BEST, UH, COMPANY TO LEAD THIS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, TAX, THE COMBAT TAX.
WE WOULD BE HAPPY LEGISLATOR TO GET YOU ALL THREE VERSIONS OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE DID REVIEW, AND WE TRIED TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THE REASONS WHY WE FELT THEY WERE THE BEST SOCIAL MEDIA LEVERAGE, HIS EXPERIENCE WITH DOING PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPAIGNS, EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN, AND FRANKLY, THEM BEING THE LOWEST BID.
UM, SO WE DO VIEW THOSE AS OBJECTIVE REASONS WHY THEY WERE KIND OF ROSE INTO THE CREAM OF THE CROP.
BUT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO GET YOU COPIES OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE LISTENED AND REVIEW.
WHEN DO YOU, WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU COULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT, MA'AM? JUST TO SET MY EXPECTATIONS.
MADAM PROSECUTOR, THAT WAS, I THINK TO YOU.
UH, WE CAN GET THEM OVER TO YOU IN VERY SHORT ORDER.
I'M ACTUALLY COMING THROUGH MY EMAIL ON MY PHONE TO FORWARD THEM TO OVER TO YOU.
UH, MY LAST QUESTION IS FOR, UH, COUNSEL.
UM, YOU HAD STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO MADE YOU AWARE OF ANY CONFLICT WITH THIS SPECIFIC COMPANY, IS THAT CORRECT? THIS IS WHITNEY WITH THE COUNTY COUNSELOR'S OFFICE.
UM, CERTAINLY I WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE CONCERNS IN A GENERAL SENSE WITH THE CONTRACT, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE SAY THIS MEMBER HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST UNTIL LEGISLATOR SMITH.
UH, SEAN SMITH BROUGHT IT UP EARLIER TODAY.
DID ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, UH, WITHIN THE COUNTY MAKE YOU AWARE OF ANY TYPE OF CONFLICT? LEGISLATURE ASIDE, I'M SORRY, LEGISLATOR SMITH, DID YOU SAY AS I, I SAID LEGISLATOR ASIDE, LEGISLATURE ASIDE, MY, MY APOLOGIES.
GENERAL COUNSEL, THAT'S TO YOU.
I MEAN, I KNOW THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE VENDOR OR THAT THEY WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VENDOR, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE SAID THAT THEY BELIEVED A, ANY CERTAIN PERSON HAD LIKE A LEGAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS OPPOSED
[01:30:01]
TO JUST EITHER LIKING OR NOT LIKING THAT VENDOR BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCES.HAS ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE USED THIS FIRM FOR THEIR POLITICAL WORK, UH, IN THE PAST? UM, YES.
LEGISLATOR SMITH, UM, I CERTAINLY HAVE, UM, THE PARKER ADVISORY GROUP ACTUALLY RAN MY CAMPAIGN.
WHOSE PRINCIPALS? CEO IS MOLINA, PARKER JOHNSON AND TAMMY EDWARDS.
BUT THEY DID USE TJ P AS A CONSULTANT ON THE TEAM WHEN I DID RUN.
BUT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM SINCE THE CONCLUSION OF MY CAMPAIGN.
WAS THAT DISCLOSED BEFORE THIS PROCESS BEGAN? ABSOLUTELY.
THEY, UM, WERE ON LIKE A LOT OF MY MATERIALS.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY DID NOT HIDE AT ALL.
AND I DISCUSSED IT WITH A NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WAS THE SCORING TEAM AWARE OF YOUR, YOUR CONFLICT? UM, I WOULDN'T CATEGORIZE IT AS A CONFLICT, SEEING AS HOW I DON'T HAVE AN EXISTING CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AND THEY DID NOT NECESSARILY SPEARHEAD MY CAMPAIGN WHILE WORKING ON IT.
UM, BUT YES, EVERYBODY ON THE, UH, COMMITTEE WAS AWARE AS WELL.
LEGISLATOR SMITH, ANY MORE CON QUESTIONS? J UH, NO, I, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY MR. CHAIR, THAT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF INFORMATION, UM, OR JUST WAITING FOR THE INFORMATION THAT, UH, MADAM PROSECUTOR SAYS YOU WOULD PROVIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO HOLD THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CERTAINLY MYSELF CAN MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISION.
I WOULD SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN, SECONDED DISCUSSION ON THE HOLD ITSELF.
ONE QUESTION I HAVE FOR GENERAL COUNSEL.
UM, DOES THE EMPLOYMENT OF A SPOUSE IN THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING SPACE ALSO POTENTIALLY PRECLUDE FOLKS FROM PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISCUSSION? I THINK WE'D NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT AFTER THIS MEETING.
I JUST HATE TO KIND OF RULE ON THAT BASED WITH, WITHOUT DOING ANY SORT OF RESEARCH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO ANY SPECIFIC INSTANCES.
LEGISLATOR SMITH, OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING, DOES YOUR HUSBAND STILL WORK IN THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING SPACE? AND IF SO, DID HE RECEIVE ONE OF THESE BIDS? NO.
UM, SO WE ARE HEARING THE HOLD ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THE HOLD ITSELF? OKAY.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLL ON THE HOLD, PLEASE.
MCGEE, NO LAUER, NO SMITH ABSTAIN GOING BACK TO FRANKLIN.
MOVING BACK INTO THE DISCUSSION ON THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE TO AMEND TO 500,000, CORRECT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO AMEND? SO, MOVE.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR THE AMENDMENT ITSELF TO ACCEPT, UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOVEMENT OR, I'M SORRY, ON THE MOTION TO AMEND HEARING NONE.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLE ON THE AMENDMENT.
JUST FOR CLARITY, DON'T WE HAVE TO HAVE VIDEOS ON FOR VOTES? YES.
UH, FRANKLIN AND MCGEE, YOU WANNA COME BACK AND DECLARE YOUR YES ON VIDEO? YES.
SO YOU'VE ADOPTED THE AMENDMENT ITSELF, FACT, TO DISCUSSION ON THE ORDINANCE ITSELF AS AMENDED LEGISLATOR.
UM, I JUST WANNA MENTION A COUPLE OF, UM, THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.
ONE BEING THAT, UM, IF THERE WAS A CONTRACT, A CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT, THAT CONTRACT IS NOW OVER.
UH, AND THAT'S THE POINT THAT I BELIEVE LEGAL BROUGHT OUT THAT THE CONTRACT IS OVER NOW, OR,
[01:35:01]
UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE BROUGHT UP.AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ALSO BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD POINT THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, OFTENTIMES WE GO TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS OR BUSINESSES THAT SPECIALIZE IN THOSE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO RE-HIGHLIGHT THOSE TWO POINTS.
UM, INQUIRY TO GENERAL COUNSEL.
UM, WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, DOESN'T THE LEGISLATURE HAVE A PROCEDURE FOR AMENDING THE RULES OR ACCEPTING AN ALTERNATIVE PROCESS IF WE FEEL THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION BASED UPON EMERGENT NEED OR ANYTHING ELSE? AND IF SO, WHAT IS THAT? I THINK MY, TO MY POINT EARLIER, UM, THE REASON THAT I DON'T FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT IS BECAUSE IT IS COMING BEFORE THIS BODY, AND THIS BODY HAS THE ABILITY TO DECIDE IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT.
AND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.
I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF, OF GOING, BECAUSE THE RULES DON'T, SO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH BONFIRE.
THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS NOTIFIED.
I WILL, LIKE, I I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY NOTIFICATIONS THERE WERE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER OF THAT, ANY OF THAT INFORMATION.
UM, BUT AS FAR AS, UH, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WERE NEEDING, WERE NEEDED, THREE BIDS WERE TAKEN, UM, THOSE WERE EVALUATED APPROPRIATELY FROM WHAT I COULD TELL IN MY VIEW.
UM, SO IN MY VIEW, THE SPIRIT OF THAT HAS BEEN MET, AND I'M NOT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
BUT IT COMES BEFORE THIS BODY SO THAT YOU CAN DECIDE IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT OR IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
SO, UM, THAT, AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT ANYTHING THE AUDITOR SAID IS RIGHT OR WRONG EITHER.
I'M JUST, I THINK THAT IT MET THE SPIRIT OF THE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH OUR PROCUREMENT, AND IT IS NOW UP TO THIS BODY TO DETERMINE IF IT MET THE CRITERIA AS YOU BELIEVE IT TO BE.
ANY OTHER, MR. OTTER, ANYTHING FROM YOU ON THIS PROCESS? I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RECORDING, INTERPRET CASE.
UH, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, UM, ANY REASON I, YOU LOOK, YOU'RE THE CHIEF LEGAL, UM, OFFICER OF THE COUNTY.
UM, I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT MADAM PROSECUTOR OR ANYONE HERE IN THESE SEATS WOULD INTENTIONALLY, KNOWINGLY PUT YOURSELVES IN A SCENARIO WHERE YOU'RE VIOLATING COUNTY POLICY AND, AND LAW, UM, AND CREATING A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO CREATE THIS MECHANISM SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN LAUNCH.
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE FOLKS WHO HAVE STUCK AROUND THUS FAR.
ANY STATEMENT, COMMENTS AS WE POTENTIALLY HEAR FOR A MOTION BEYOND NOW? I WOULD JUST FROM THE PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT WHAT MS. MILLER JUST INDICATED, AND WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE AUDITOR'S POSITION AS WELL.
UM, WE WANTED AN OPEN PROCESS.
WE TRIED TO PROVIDE AN OPEN PROCESS AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AS BEST AS WE CAN.
WHAT I COULDN'T ANSWER, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE ELECTED PROSECUTOR JUMPED IN AND ANSWER IT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY AND ALL INFORMATION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, BUT WE REALLY STAND ON THE FACT THAT THE GROUND HAS SHIFTED AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THE VOTERS THE INFORMATION IN A DIGESTIBLE WAY WITH A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THEM TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
SO WE APPRECIATE THIS BODY GIVING US THE CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND VISIT MADAM PROSECUTOR, ANYTHING.
YES, I WOULD JUST BRIEFLY ADD THAT AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, IT WAS A COMPETITIVE BID.
IT WAS A BID AVAILABLE TO MULTIPLE COMPANIES.
AND I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT NOT ONLY DID WE PICK THE BEST SUBSTANTIVE OPTION, UM, TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IN JACKSON COUNTY, WE DID ALSO PICK THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THIS COUNTY TO MAKE IT TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
SO AS FAR AS THE SPIRIT OF PROCUREMENT, UM, I AGREE WITH THE COUNTY COUNSELOR'S OFFICE THAT IT WAS CERTAINLY MET, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S CONSIDERATION.
BACK TO DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL MOTIONS I'LL MOVE TO PERFECT AS AMENDED IS THERE'S A MOTION TO PERFECT AS AMENDED.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE PERFECTION AS AMENDED? UM, LEGISLATIVE SMITH, VICE CHAIR SMITH? SO KEY POINT I WANT TO BRING TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION AND MAYBE THE COUNTY COUNSELOR'S OFFICE CAN FAMILIARIZE OUR, MY COLLEAGUES WITH, UH, UH, MISSOURI REVISED STATUTE ONE 15.6 46.
IT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS SPENDING TAX DOLLARS TO ADVOCATE FOR ELECTIONS, AN ITEM ON ELECTION BALLOT.
UM, GIVEN SOME OF THE HISTORY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND AGAIN, I'M GONNA BE ABSTAINING, BUT I, UM, THE PROSECUTOR CITIZEN, WELL, SHE SENT MR. LATA AN EMAIL WHO FORWARDED ON TO US ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, HOW THIS IS VITAL TO MAINTAINING SERVICES.
UM, IT, IT ALL FRAMED UP A LOT.
[01:40:01]
SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT THIS INTENT IS ADVOCACY, EVEN IF WE AVOID SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.UM, SO COULD YOU GUYS TELL US WHAT 1 15 6 46 IS, UM, JUST SO THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD'VE LEGAL CULPABILITY IF THESE FUNDS ARE USED FOR SOMETHING THAT CROSSES THE LINE INTO ADVOCACY, CORRECT? YES.
SO ESSENTIALLY THE STATUTE, I BELIEVE, UH, LEGISLATOR SMITH IS REFERRING TO PROHIBITS THE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR ADVOCATING FOR, UH, SOMETHING SUCH AS THIS COMBAT TAX.
UM, SO IT, THERE HAS TO BE A VERY FIRM LINE BETWEEN ADVOCACY VERSUS EDUCATION, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT, UM, EDUCATION CAMPAIGN VERSUS ADVOCACY.
AND THERE, THERE CAN BE LIABILITY CERTAINLY FOR THAT UNDER THE STATUTE.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT.
I WILL SAY, UM, IN THE LAST WEEK TO 10 DAYS, I CAN'T REALLY REMEMBER HOW LONG WE DID GO THROUGH THE CONTRACT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HAD NO LANGUAGE RELATING TO ADVOCACY, UM, AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS DIRECTLY, UM, SPECIFIC TO EDUCATION, IF THAT, UM, SO AT LEAST UNDER THE CONTRACT, THAT IS WHAT THE LANGUAGE CURRENTLY SAYS IS THAT IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO EDUCATION RATHER THAN ADVOCACY TO DO THE BEST WE COULD TO AVOID ANY SORT OF, UM, LACK OF CLARITY OVER WHAT THE INTENTION HERE SHOULD BE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT NOT ADVOCATE FOR A SPECIFIC VOTE IN EITHER DIRECTION, THAT IT ONLY EDUCATE AS TO WHAT THE MONEY IS, WHAT THE COMBAT FUNDS WOULD BE USED FOR.
AND THEN I HAVE ONE MORE AFTER.
SO, AND THEN THE FINAL QUESTION FOR ANYBODY FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PRIOR RENEWALS OF THIS TAX HAVE NEVER EXPENDED COUNTY FUNDS BEFORE.
I'VE GOTTEN THAT INFORMATION FROM THE PRIOR PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND I'VE GOTTEN THAT INFORMATION FROM, UH, UH, PRIOR LEGISLATORS WHO ARE HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, VERY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED BY THE C COMMITTEE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO FROM A, FROM A FISCAL STANDPOINT, WE'VE HEARD THAT WE'RE CONCERNED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A ROUGH TAX ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW.
WE KIND OF AGREE, AND I KIND OF HAVE ALSO BEEN PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN THE SENIOR SERVICES TAX PASSED WITHOUT ANY EXPENDITURE OF COUNTY FUNDS.
UM, MY COMMUNITY LEE SUMMIT JUST PASSED SOMETHING THAT IS A WAIVER SO THAT THE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN ESSENTIALLY RAISE TAXES.
UM, SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND NOBODY WANTS THIS TO FAIL, UH, UH, I, I ALSO WILL JUST SAY THAT THE HISTORY IS THE COUNTY HAS NOT DONE THIS WITH COUNTY FUNDS BEFORE AS FAR AS MY RESEARCH HAS BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY.
SO, UH, TO WHOM MR. CHAIRMAN, GO AHEAD.
UM, LEGISLATOR SMITH ON YOUR FIRST POINT.
UM, YES, OUR STAFF IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT STATUTORY PROVISION.
UM, LAST WEEK I EVEN HAD THE OCCASION TO SPEAK TO ATTORNEY GENERAL CATHERINE HANAWAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M VERY, VERY CLEAR ON THE LINE OF DELINEATION WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CANNOT DO.
AND IT CERTAINLY SEEMS, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT OUR PLAN IS GOING TO PASS THAT STATUTORY MUSTER AND WE WILL HAVE NO ISSUES THERE.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THINGS VERY SEPARATE BETWEEN ADVOCACY AND EDUCATIONAL AND EVEN HAVE A SEPARATE OUTSIDE OPERATION TO HANDLE THE ADVOCACY PIECE AND PRIVATELY FUNDRAISE.
UM, THE POINT ABOUT, UM, AND I'M SORRY, I'M LOSING MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT, UH, LEGISLATOR, WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND POINT? PRIOR, UM, EXPENDITURES FOR RENEWAL? YES.
PRIOR EXPENDITURES FOR RENEWAL, YES, THAT IS THE CASE.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ARGUE THAT, UM, IN THE LAST NINE YEARS THAT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HAVE ANOTHER ELECTION AROUND COMBAT, THE CLIMATE AROUND TAXES HAS CERTAINLY CHANGED.
WE SAW THE PUBLIC SE, OH, NOT THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX, BUT THAT DID FACE ROBUST OPPOSITION.
WE ALSO SAW THE STADIUM SALES TAX FAIL, UM, THE EARNINGS TAX THAT THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY JUST PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS.
THAT WAS ALSO A FALL, A A HARD FOUGHT CAMPAIGN.
AND SO OUR ELECTORATE AND OUR CLIMATE AND OUR BROADER COMMUNITY MORE GENERALLY, HAS A VERY DIFFERENT FEELING AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS TAXES IN THIS CURRENT DAY, WHICH IS WHY THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT IS SO IMPORTANT IN OUR OPINION.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS FOLLOWING UP? THAT'S ALL I HAVE OUT THERE BEFORE I OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE PERFECTION? ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLE FOR THE PERFECTION.
[01:45:01]
YES.IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT? MOVE TO ADOPT THERE? SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ADOPTION ITSELF? HEARING NONE.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE FOR ADOPTION ANDERSON.
SO MAD CLERK, DO YOU WANNA READ IT INTO WHAT HAPPENED? I'M SORRY.
UH, 6 1 0 4 WAS ADOPTED, CORRECT? CORRECT.
[6092 AN ORDINANCE appropriating $15,415,000.00 from the undesignated fund balance of various funds and authorizing the County Executive to execute Cooperative Agreements to fund infrastructure projects with certain municipalities within Jackson County in an amount not to exceed $15,415,000.00.]
OUTTA ORDER 6 0 9 2.I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A FLOOR SUBSTITUTE ON THIS ONE.
UH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU GIMME ONE SECOND, LET FOLKS THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AGAIN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR TESTIMONY TODAY.
THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE WAS HANDED OUT THE WEEK AFTER IT WAS INTRODUCED, BUT IT HAD BEEN SO LONG.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS EVER ACCEPTED.
OKAY, MR. EXECUTIVE, YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THE AMENDMENT THAT WE'LL HAVE TO ADOPT AS A FLOOR AMENDMENT? I'M GUESSING 6 0 9 2.
UH, THE, THE BEST STORY I HAVE TO TELL YOU IS THAT, UM, THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR GOT TO LOOK AT THE, THE NUMBERS AND, UM, THE FIRST THING HE BROUGHT TO MIND IS, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY? WHICH IS A VERY GOOD THING.
WHERE DOES HE, WHERE'D HE GO? I'M SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT HIM.
AH, UH, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE COLLABORATION WITH TROY ON THAT.
UH, I DON'T, THE AMENDMENTS OF WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS IS ACTUALLY SPECIFICS OF WHERE EACH DOLLAR'S GONNA COME FROM, WHAT FUND.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER, NOT TO GET TO, UH, FEED A DEAD HORSE, WHICH I DON'T LIKE TO SAY BECAUSE I HAVE HORSES.
AND SO IT IS BEEN A PROBLEM TRACKING IT DOWN.
BUT WE WE'RE ABLE TO, TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THIS MUCH RIGHT NOW TO PROVIDE THE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE CARE OF SOME JACKSON COUNTY, SOME PIVOTAL JACKSON COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR FRONT DOOR, THE STEPS, THE FIRST FLOOR, THE, AND OVER 16 MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE ASKED FOR SOME HELP WITH SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS. IS THAT IT, MR. EXECUTIVE? UM, ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN, I THINK THE ORIGINAL DRAFT AND THE ONE WE'RE SEEING HERE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OR GENERAL COUNSEL CAN SPEAK ON.
I, I'M, I'M NOT CONSCIOUS OF ANY CHANGES.
UH, SO MY MEMORY IS WHEN WE FIRST INTRODUCED IT, WE INTRODUCED WITH SOME, WITH WHAT WE CALL KIND OF A SHELL FISCAL NOTE TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA.
AND THEN THIS WAS WHAT WAS BROUGHT THE NEXT WEEK TO HAVE THE FULL FISCAL NOTE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY CHANGES I'M AWARE OF I WAS GONE THAT WEEK.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU SINCE IT HAD BEEN SO LONG.
BUT, UM, THIS IS THE SAME LANGUAGE WE WERE GIVEN, I BELIEVE, JUNE 8TH OR SOMETHING, SOMEWHERE AROUND THEN.
MR. CHAIR? YES, MR. VICE CHAIR.
SO THIS LIST STILL HAS THE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE, UM, CAP, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, FOR KANSAS CITY, THE I SIX 70 CAP, I THINK IT'S NAMED SOME OTHER LUMINARY PARK NOW, BUT, UM, I JUST, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I'VE RAISED IT PUBLICLY.
KANSAS CITY GOT THEIR OWN TRANCHE OF $192 MILLION MORE THAN ALL OF JACKSON COUNTY.
THE REST OF JACKSON COUNTY DID.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE INTENT OF OUR SEPARATE TRANCHE WAS FOR THE COUNTY NEEDS AND FOR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES NOT TO ADD TO KANSAS CITY'S, UM, BENEFIT THAT THEY ALREADY HAD RECEIVED.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I FEEL LIKE WE HEARD SOME TESTIMONY
[01:50:01]
LAST WEEK ON MONDAY, TWO WEEKS, UM, OR TWO WEEKS AT THE INDEPENDENCE COURTHOUSE WHERE, UM, THERE WERE SOME CITIES APPROACHING US THAT HAD DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAN THIS.SO FOR, FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD, UH, UH, LIKE TO HOLD IT IF THERE'S A SECOND.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO HOLD.
UM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, DO WE WANT TO ADOPT THE NEW VERSION TO HOLD IT SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST ADJUST TO THIS? OR DO WE WANNA YOU SAY ADOPT? WE HAVEN'T PERFECTED YET.
DO YOU WANNA, YOU WANNA ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT? THANK YOU.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO HOLD THIS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE HOLD, MR. EXECUTIVE, ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE GOT GOING ON THAT'S, YEAH.
THE TIME SENSITIVE OR CHALLENGING? THIS WHOLE THING'S TIME SENSITIVE.
'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS MONEY OUT THE DOOR FOR FIVE YEARS AND THESE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE RESPONDED TO US.
I PROVIDED INFORMATION TO EACH OF YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY SPECIFICALLY, UH, AGREED TO.
OF COURSE, THEY WANT MORE MONEY, WHO WOULDN'T? UM, BUT WE HAVE TO START WITH A PROCESS.
WE HAVE TO MOVE SOME STUFF OUT THE DOOR.
UH, RICHARD SMITH, TO YOUR RESPONSE TO YOUR SPECIFIC ONE.
UH, AS FAR AS KANSAS CITY, WE ALSO INCLUDED KANSAS CITY AND ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD APPLY THAT TO BLUE RIVER ROAD, WHICH IS A PROBLEM IN, UH, SOUTHEAST KANSAS CITY.
SO I, UH, THIS SPECIFICALLY, UM, DOES NOT DESIGNATE THAT KANSAS CITY HAS TO GET IT FOR THE, THE, UH, THE ROY BLUNT LUMINARY PART.
WE WANNA HELP THEM WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.
I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND YOUR ISSUE ABOUT THAT.
UM, MY GOAL, I THINK THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY WAS TO AT LEAST SHARE ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES, UH, WITH SOME PART OF THIS.
KANSAS CITY IS PART OF JACKSON COUNTY.
THEY DO GET A BIGGER CHUNK OF CHANGE THAN OTHERS DO.
BUT THIS WAS JUST A BASIC SNAPSHOT IN TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES GOT SOME SORT OF FUNDING TO HELP THEM WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY ALL HAVE PROJECTS THEY GLADLY CAN TAKE THIS MONEY TO.
AND WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN JACKSON COUNTY WITH THIS BUILDING, THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR DECADES TO EMBARRASSMENT OF NOT HAVING OUR FRONT ENTRANCE OPEN FOR YEARS.
UM, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS MCCUNE SCHOOL.
WE HAVE TO GET THE MONEY TO EITHER, UH, DEMOLISH IT, SELL IT OR WHATEVER.
AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OUR HISTORIC INDEPENDENCE COURTHOUSE.
WE HAVE TO HELP, UH, WITH OUR, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO DO WITH THIS MONEY.
AGAIN, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S ALL SPENT, UM, BEFORE WE'RE GONNA FIX THE COURTHOUSE STEPS, THE FRONT DOOR, I GOTTA COME BACK TO YOU WITH A PROPOSAL AND SAY, HERE'S THE COMPANY THAT WANTS TO DO IT.
HERE'S HOW THE BID PROCESS WORK.
WILL YOU APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS? THIS IS ONLY A ALLOWING THESE TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE, WITH THE CITIES, AND TO PUT THESE OTHER MONEY IN FUNDS THAT WE CAN NOW USE.
IF NOT, WE'RE GONNA KEEP COMING BACK ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES MISSED.
AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND I, THE, THE, I'LL END WITH THIS.
A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT SHOWED UP IN THE IN DEFENSE COURTHOUSE THAT THEY'VE GOT SOME ISSUES TOO.
WE CAN, WE CAN DO ANOTHER ROUND OF THIS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.
THERE WAS A PROCESS, PEOPLE APPLIED AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
SO TO DO ANOTHER ROUND, HOW MUCH FUNDING DO WE HAVE LEFT? I'M NOT GOING ANOTHER ROUND NOW.
I WANNA GET ONE BITE AT A TIME.
YOU JUST, YOU JUST SAID IF WE HAVE OTHER NEEDS THAT WE CAN DO ANOTHER ROUND.
I'M, I'VE, I'VE DESIGNATED THIS MUCH MONEY TO DO THESE PROJECTS AND THERE COULD BE OTHER ROUNDS THAT THIS BODY WANTS TO, TO WORK ON AND I'M READY TO, TO COLLABORATE WITH.
WE DID SO, BUT THIS HAS BEEN LINGERING.
THESE ARE, THERE, THERE'S NOT ONE ISSUE ON THERE THAT IS NOT A, A PRESSING NEED TO JACKSON COUNTY AND OR TO THESE MIS MUNICIPALITIES.
SO EVERY LEGISLATION IS NOT PERFECT.
IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT WE CAN MOVE THINGS AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
IF WE WANNA HOLD IT AND START GOING THROUGH THESE AGAIN.
WE CERTAINLY CAN AND NOT GET THIS, THIS OUT AGAIN.
BUT, UH, WE, WE HAVE A PROCESS AND IT'S HERE AND I, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE AREN'T MOVING.
MR. EXECUTIVE, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE PROCESS THAT YOU UTILIZE WITH MR. ABO AND THE REQUESTS AND THE FOLLOW UP AND THE LETTERS THAT YOU SENT TO US ABOUT WHAT THE CITIES ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THEY'RE, THEY'LL ACCEPT AND HOW THEY WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
WE, WE HAVE, UH, UH, MY ADMINISTRATION, EITHER MYSELF OR MR. ABO, HAS TALKED SPECIFICALLY WITH EACH MAYOR AND EACH, UH, CITY MANAGER ABOUT ISSUES THEY HAVE PENDING AND WHAT THEY WOULD USE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR.
UM, I HAVE SUPPLIED TO EVERY MEMBER OF THIS LEGISLATURE, LETTERS FROM THE CITY SPECIFICALLY SAYING, YES, IF YOU HAD X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, WE WOULD USE IT FOR THIS.
UM, I ALSO MET WITH EACH ONE OF YOU MONTHS AGO SAYING, HERE'S THE PROCESS WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES THERE? AND, UH, WE CAN STILL KEEP, KEEP DEALING WITH THIS, BUT AT SOME POINT WE, WE NEED TO MOVE.
UM, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AS IT RELATES TO THE HOLD ON THIS, UM, I HAVE SOMEONE BROADLY KIND OF TO LEGISLATOR SMITH'S CONCERN AND MAYBE THE AUDITORS AS WELL ABOUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS I THINK TWO YEARS AGO, ABOUT 35 MILLION GOING TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE
[01:55:01]
IN THE COUNTY AND ACROSS CITIES AS WELL AS 35 MILLION GOING TO THE PUBLIC.UM, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED THE LOCATION OF THE REMAINDER OF THE $20 MILLION THAT WAS INITIALLY, AND THIS IS NOT A, A CRACK TO YOU, BUT AT ALL, IT'S JUST, I KNOW THERE'S SOME DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT ELSE MAY EXIST, MAY GIVE SOME FOLKS PAUSE ON, UM, THE, THE ABILITY TO HOLD HERE AND GET MONEY OUT THE DOOR.
IS THERE ANY, ANY MORE DIRECTION YOU CAN GIVE US ON THE TOTALITY OF THAT $35 MILLION? OR IS THIS IT? YEAH, THIS IS, UH, YEAH, IT'S A PROBLEM.
IT'S A PROBLEM OF WHAT HOW THE FOREIGN ADMINISTRATION BUDGETED THE MONEY AND HOW IT WENT AND WHERE IT WENT TO THE HEALTH FUND.
AND THEN WE WERE, WE WERE TAKEN FROM THE HEALTH FUND USING MONEY THAT WE SHOULDN'T BEEN, AND IT DREW DOWN ON THAT, THAT WE WERE USING TO PAY FOR, UH, INMATE INSURANCE.
SO YOUR ANSWER IS, YEAH, THERE'S A PROBLEM.
UM, YOUR ANSWER ALSO IS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS $15 MILLION AND THE AUDITORS HELPED US LOOK AT IT, AND IT'S DESIGNATED EXACTLY WHERE EACH DOLLAR WOULD COME FROM THERE.
WE CAN DEFINITELY DEAL WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE A, A, AN AUDIT THAT'S COMING OUT THIS MONTH, NOT THE STATE AUDITOR'S AUDIT, OUR OWN PERSONAL, OUR OWN PROFESSIONAL AUDIT.
THEY DO EVERY YEAR AUDIT EVERY YEAR.
AND THOSE ARE STILL QUESTIONS THAT ARE STILL NEEDING TO BE ANSWERED, BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE ANSWERED BEFORE WE CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HOLD, UH, LEGISLATOR SMITH? UH, NO, MR. CHAIR, MY QUESTION WAS IN, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, AMENDMENT THAT WAS PROPOSED, NOT THE HOLD.
UM, WE'LL SEE HOW WE ADVANCE HERE.
UM, TO MY COLLEAGUES, I, I DO WORRY THAT THIS NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF BREATH.
I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, ENGAGED THIS AS A LEGISLATURE AS A WHOLE EFFORT, SO IT IS SOMEWHAT MESSY BECAUSE IT'S NOT THROUGH A COMMITTEE.
UM, AND, AND I WOULD REALLY ASK THAT WE WORK THROUGH AT LEAST, UM, TAKING ON THE AMENDMENT TO TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY HOLD, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST GONNA GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AGAIN IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE MEETING AND THEN THE NEXT ONE.
AND SO, UM, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR NOT HOLDING, SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE POINT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE.
IF THERE ARE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE OR SUGGEST TO THE EXECUTIVE, WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF JUST HOLDING AND PARKING THIS IN A PARKING LOT.
SO, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR YOU NOT TO ADVANCE A HOLD AND INSTEAD WORK THROUGH THIS.
AND IF WE WANNA HOLD BEYOND THAT, I'M, I'M OPEN TO THAT AS WELL.
SO, UH, WITH THAT MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLL FOR A HOLD.
MCGEE? NO LAUER? NO SMITH? YES.
SO WE ARE BACK INTO THE DISCUSSION.
LEGISLATOR SMITH, YOU SAID YOU HAD A BROAD QUESTION ABOUT THE AMENDMENT ITSELF.
UM, SO JUST IN PROCEDURAL TERMS, SO THIS, THIS ORDINANCE, UM, IT'S JUST AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO MAKE THESE TRANSFERS INTO THESE ACCOUNTS AND THEN TO GO UNDER, UM, OR EXCUSE ME, TO MAKE PAYMENTS, UH, FOR THE ONES THAT ARE CONTRACTED TO DO THIS WORK.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WITH THIS ORDINANCE, HOW MUCH OF THE COUNTY'S, UH, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, UM, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED? UM, ONCE ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE DONE.
DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF, OF THAT MR. EXECUTIVE OR ANYONE ELSE YOU GOT THERE THAT CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION? UHR SMITH SPECIFICALLY? UM, THE FRONT ENTRANCE RENOVATION AND THE STEP REPLACEMENT.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, HAVE SENT OUT BIDS ONE TIME AND THEY DIDN'T GET ANY RESPONSES.
THEIR, THEIR BID WAS AROUND $8 MILLION.
AND WE'VE HAD STAFF, MR. EXECUTIVE, IS THIS FROM MCCUNE? IS THAT CORRECT? NOPE, THIS IS FOR THE FRONT STEPS.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD STAFF MEET WITH THEM AND WALK IT AND TRY AND TO SCALE IT DOWN.
AND I'M TOLD BY MY STAFF THAT COULD GET DOWN TO, TO $6 MILLION.
SO THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE, UH, ENTRANCE TO THE FRONT, FRONT FIRST FLOOR, THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE.
SECONDLY, THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOVING AND CREATING THE JURY ROOM, THE HR ON THE FIRST FLOOR, THAT'S $2 MILLION TO, TO MOTIVATE THAT.
I, I ACTUALLY INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME DOWN AND SEE WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.
AS FAR AS FAR AS THE MCCUNE SCHOOL AND THE JAIL TOWERS, OUR OLD JAIL, THERE'S A $4 MILLION BUDGET ITEM IN HERE THAT COULD BE USED FOR THE DEMOLITION OR SOMETHING OF THAT.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT BEFORE THIS BODY TAKES ON ON ANY DECISIONS THAT WAS JUST BUDGETED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WOULD DO.
'CAUSE WE NEED TO ACT ON THOSE.
[02:00:01]
HISTORIC INDEPENDENCE COURTHOUSE HAS $350,000 A DA ACCESSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS.THE SPORTS COMPLEX SOFTBALL PARKING LOT IS $270,000.
THE LONGVIEW BEACH PARKING LOT RENOVATION IS $220,000.
EACH OF THOSE WERE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLAR OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX IT.
BUT WE DECIDED JUST TO PATCH THEM AND RESEAL THEM.
UH, WE HAVE BLUE SPRINGS MARINA AUXILIARY PARKING AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THE FLEMING PARK GAS LOT AT 45,000.
SO THAT'S THE ACTUAL FUNDS THAT WOULD COME FROM THIS, THAT WOULD BE DEALING SPECIFICALLY FOR JACKSON COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIFICS.
OTHER QUESTIONS? LEGISLATOR SMITH ONE, IF I CAN FOLLOW UP TO THAT SAME TOPIC.
UM, I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WHY ARE THESE PRIORITIES OVER A NEW PLAYGROUND SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING ELSE? UM, CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON ON WHY THESE ONES NOW AND SOME OF THE BUDGET RESTRAINTS? I THINK AS YOU LOOK AT THE BROADER ISSUES, ELEVATORS AND AIR CONDITIONERS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, UM, I, I, I NEED ABOUT $17 BILLION TO BRING THIS, THE, THE COUNTY PROPERTIES UP TO.
SO WE'VE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE.
THAT WAS A B, RIGHT? A BAB WITH A B.
UH, SO YES, THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.
A STRATEGIC PLAN WOULD BE AMAZING.
THIS IS A START, AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN GET WORK ON A STRATEGIC PLAN MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE.
I JUST WANTED MY, UH, THOUGHTS TO BE CLEAR.
UM, THIS, UH, ARPA FUNDING, NON OPERA FUNDING, WHATEVER WE'RE GONNA CALL IT THIS TIME AROUND, EVER SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, I THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD, UH, DEDICATE, AND I'M GLAD WE DID SPLIT THIS OF THE 35 MILLION FOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
AND I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD, UH, MEDIAN THERE TO MEET WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
IF I COULD HAVE MY WAY, WE SHOULD SPEND ALL $35 MILLION MAKING SURE THAT THIS COURTHOUSE AND ALL OF OUR FACILITIES ARE A DA COMPLIANT.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
BUT UNDER, AND, AND THIS IS GONNA BE MY CLEAR THING, HOWEVER THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD, WE MUST, WE MUST LOOK AT AS THE ONLY WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO THIS PLACE WITHOUT THE FRONT STEPS BEING OPEN OR REVISING THAT IS TO THE WESTERN SIDE.
YOU CANNOT WHEEL ANYBODY UP THAT SIDEWALK AT ALL WITHOUT THEM HAVING THE ABILITY TO FALL DOWN OFF OF IT.
THE IDEA THAT IF YOU HAVE A WHEELCHAIR, YOU CANNOT GET IN MOST OF THESE DOORWAYS IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.
MOST OF THE BATHROOMS ARE NOT A DA COMPLIANT.
WE HAVE SO MUCH THAT WE ARE OVERLOOKING WITH PEOPLES WHO HAVE TO USE THESE COURTHOUSES AND OUR FACILITIES, AND WE HAVE TO GET THESE THINGS DONE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITIES NEED MONEY.
I UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSAL.
HE KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT A DA COMPLIANCE AND I UNDER AND, AND PROMISE TO WORK ON THAT.
BUT I JUST WANNA BRING THIS UP.
AGAIN, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE TERRIBLE CHALLENGES THAT WE PUT ON PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO BE TRADED EQUALLY AND FAIRLY.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? WOULD THERE WE DO NEED TO TAKE AN ACTION LIKELY ON ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENT.
I'D ASSUME THAT WE CAN AT LEAST DO THAT.
UM, THEN ALSO, I NEED TO READ IT INTO THE RECORD BECAUSE IT'S, I'M MADAM CLERK APPROPRIATING $2,495,000 FROM THE UN-DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATING 45,000 FROM THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE PARK FUND, APPROPRIATING $12,285,000 FROM THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE COUNTY IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROPRIATING $590,000 FROM THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE PARK ENTERPRISE FUND, AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO EXCLUDE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITH CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN JACKSON COUNTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,415,000, INTRODUCED BY MANUEL BARKER, THE FOURTH AND JAYLEN ANDERSON.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, MADAM CLERK.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE WE DO TOO MUCH, BUT I KNOW WE WANT TO ACCEPT PROBABLY THE AMENDMENT AS IS.
I THINK THE FACT THAT WE HAVE FISCAL ATTACHMENTS TO THIS IS IMPORTANT.
UM, EVEN AS WE DISCUSS RIGHT, WRONG, OR DIFFERENT, WHAT IT IS, I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT FROM THE FLOOR? I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT.
IT'S A, IT'S A FLOOR SUBSTITUTE.
I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE FLOOR SUBSTITUTE THERE A SECOND.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ACCEPTING THE FLOOR SUBSTITUTE? OKAY.
ONE EXCUSED THIS FLOOR SUBSTITUTE,
[02:05:01]
UM, COLLEAGUES, UM, HAVING DEALT WITH THIS FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS NOW, UM, THERE'S NO PROCESS THAT'S PERFECT WITHOUT A DOUBT.AND I WOULD APPLAUD THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR STEPPING FORWARD AND PUTTING THIS MONEY IN MOTION TO GET IT OUT THE DOOR AS WE COMMITTED TO DOING, I THINK LATE LAST YEAR, UH, WITH THE CLEAVER COMPROMISE.
UM, I THINK AS WE'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN INDEPENDENCE, THERE ARE A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF NEED, NONPROFIT OR MUNICIPAL.
UM, BUT THIS IS A STEP FORWARD, UM, WITH SOME PRIORITIES, UM, AND MORE TO COME.
UM, MR. EXECUTIVE, CAN YOU TELL US IN YOUR MIND HOW THIS PROCEEDS, WE ADVANCE THIS, PUT THE MONEY IN THESE BUCKETS, AND THEN YOU COME BACK WITH US FOR CONTRACTS TO SOLIDIFY OR YOU EXECUTE CONTRACTS.
HOW DOES THAT WORK SPECIFICALLY THERE? THERE'S DIFFERENT BUDGET ITEMS. THERE'S DEFINITELY ONE.
SO AS FAR AS THE MUNICIPALITIES, UM, WE WILL IN ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES, WITH THEIR SPECIFIC USE OF THESE FUNDS FOR THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS THAT'S ON THE LETTERS THAT YOU ALL HAD RECEIVED.
THAT'S FROM YOUR MUNICIPALITIES GOING FORWARD.
AS FAR AS ALL THE OTHER ISSUES, EVERY ONE WILL COME TO THIS BODY WITH A PROPOSAL OF A BID OR A CONTRACT TO BE DONE WITH A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OR A CEMENT COMPANY OR SOMETHING TO DO THE WORK ON THESE THINGS.
SO THIS MONEY IS JUST GONNA GO INTO THE FUND AND THEN FOR US TO COME BACK, ADMINISTRATION COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT WE, HERE'S THE COMPANY THAT'S PUT BIDS TO DO THE, THE, THE FRONT ENTRANCE RENOVATION AND THE STEP REPLACEMENT.
SO WE'RE THIS O ONLY ISSUE MOVING FORWARD ON THE PASSAGE OF THIS IS THE CONTRACTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES AND ENTERING THE INTO AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
EVERYTHING ELSE WILL COME BACK TO THIS BODY FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THAT LEGISLATOR.
SO, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE $1 MILLION FOR KANSAS CITY, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT AT ONE POINT IT WAS DESIGNATED FOR A PROJECT, BUT NOW YOU'RE ASKING THAT IT BE DESIGNATED FOR THE BLUE RIVER ROAD PROJECT AND WITH, IF THAT IS THE CASE, WILL THE CITIES ALSO BRING, AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID THIS, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET CLARITY FOR ME.
WILL THE CITIES ALSO BRING THEIR CONTRACTS TO US FOR APPROVAL? WILL THOSE COME BEFORE US, OR WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SIGN OFF ON THOSE CONTRACTS? NO, THOSE CONTRACTS THAT, THOSE WILL BE LIKE THE, THE, UH, OUTSIDE AGENCIES, YOU ORDER THEM A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THEN, AND THEN THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY EXECS OFFICE TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH THEM.
ONCE THEY SIGN THAT, THEN THEY'RE, UH, THEY GET A CHECK.
UH, AS FAR AS KANSAS CITY, UH, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR RESPONDED, UH, THAT THEY WOULD COULD ALSO AND WOULD ALSO APPLY THAT TO BLUE RIVER.
I ACTUALLY BROUGHT THE, THE CONCERNS OF LEDGER SMITH TO HIM, HIS CONCERNS LIKE, HEY, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GO TO THE LUMINARY PARK.
UM, AND THEN WE ALL KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY TOO, THAT, UH, BLUE RIVER ROAD IS A PROBLEM AND ANY MONEY THEY CAN HAVE TOWARDS THAT, THEY WOULD LOVE FOR US TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM ON THAT.
SO, UH, SPECIFICALLY KANSAS CITY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT ISN'T, UH, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED THAT I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT.
MAYBE NOT USING THE LUMINARY PARK ONE, BUT EVERY OTHER CITY HAS A LETTER OF SPECIFY WHAT THEY WOULD USE IT FOR, AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CONTRACT OF THAT SPECIFIC USE.
FOR EXAMPLE, BLUE SPRINGS, IT WILL APPLY IT TOWARDS THEIR DOWNTOWN, THEIR DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT.
UM, COUPLE CURIOSITIES, UM, COMPLIANCE.
AND SO I KNOW IN THE PAST WHEN WE DID THE 35 MILLION WITH THE NONPROFITS, WE HAD TO, UH, ACTUATE I THINK SOME COMPLIANCE DOLLARS ATTACHED TO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MANAGE THOSE APPROPRIATELY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WITH THE CITIES, THEY DO THEIR OWN COMPLIANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.
LIKELY THE THRESHOLD IS $75,000 FROM THE STATE STATUTE PER PREVAILING WAGE TRIGGERS.
AND SO EVERYTHING UNDER IS SUBJECTED TO WHAT IT'S NOT.
BUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO EVALUATE? UM, THINKING ABOUT IF WE ADVANCE, THIS LOOKS LIKE MAYBE $10 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY.
DO WE NEED TO ATTACH SOME COMPLIANCE TO THIS AT ALL OR ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL STEPS TO HELP MONITOR THOSE PROGRAMS? UH, THE, THE COMPLIANCE BUILT IN, WHEN, WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION COMES BACK TO YOU ON A PROJECT TO DEAL WITH THE MCCUNE SCHOOL, AND IF WE HAVE A BID FOR DEMOLITION AND WE COME BACK WITH A BID, IT HAS TO MEET ALL THE COMPLIANCE THAT THIS BODY PROVIDES IN EVERY CONTRACT WE ISSUE.
UM, SO IS THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED? SO, THINKING THAT OUR COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE, I BELIEVE, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. AUDITOR REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FUNDING PER PROJECT THAT WE AUTHORIZE, WHICH IS WHAT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WAS, I THINK, OF THE 35 MILLION INITIALLY.
UM, SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED IF WE WERE TO DEMOLISH OR TO CREATE? I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A PERCENTAGE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, FOR, UH, ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS. I, I, I BELIEVE THAT'D BE PART OF THE PROJECT, OKAY.
COST TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S BAKED IN THE AMOUNT.
UM, NOT THAT I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THIS, BUT AS THE, ONE OF THE ONLY LEGISLATORS WHO REPRESENTS
[02:10:01]
ONE CITY, AND THAT WOULD BE KANSAS CITY, UM, IS THEIR APPETITE TO SET ASIDE OR MODIFY THE MILLION DOLLARS TO KANSAS CITY TO SOME DEGREE, TO HAVE THEM COME BACK AND TELL US PERHAPS WHAT THE PROJECT IS, MAKE A PRESENTATION THAT WE WOULD REAUTHORIZE, BUT SETTING IT ASIDE FOR THAT, UM, THAT'S AN OPTION AS WELL THAT I WANNA PUT ON THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSION.UM, OR CHOPPING THIS UP AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY'S PORTION AND SETTING ASIDE A MUNICIPAL OR VICE VERSA, UM, OR IS THERE A POTENTIAL OF US PUTTING THE MONEY IN PLAY IN THESE BUCKETS AND THEN WE CREATE A 30 45 DAY PROCESS.
AGAIN, NOT WHAT I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR, BUT A PROCESS, UM, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND CREATE SOME FAST MECHANISM TO GET THE MONEY OUT THE DOOR.
UM, COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS.
UM, JUST TRYING TO DISCUSS THIS AND MR. EXECUTIVE, I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND ON ANY OF THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.
UM, I THINK YOUR GOAL IS THIS MINE TO GET THIS MONEY TO THE PLACES THAT IT WAS, UM, SHOULD HAVE BEEN SIX YEARS AGO NOW, SINCE 20, UH, SINCE COVID-19.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE BODY'S TEMPERATURE ON THE KANSAS CITY ISSUE, BUT IF, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE TO WANNA SET THAT ASIDE AND MOVE THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY THAT 1 MILLION OUT OF THIS, UM, AND IF THAT GETS THIS THING MOVING AND PASSED, I'M DEFINITELY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE LATER.
I'LL MOVE TO AMEND AND STRIKE THAT SPECIFIC LINE ITEM.
THERE'S A MOTION TO AMEND WHICH PORTION, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR.
AND THAT'S TO STRIKE COMPLETELY REMOVING IT FROM, FROM THIS ORDINANCE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY, LIKE I SAID, THEY, THEY GOT THEIR OWN TRANCHE OF FUNDING.
I THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE THAT WE NOW ADD MORE TO THAT.
UM, THEY REPRESENT, IN TOTAL, I THINK KANSAS CITY HAS 550,000 RESIDENTS.
UM, UH, JACK EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY HAS, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, ABOUT 400,000 RESIDENTS.
UM, THE 500,000 RESIDENTS GOT THIS HUGE TRANCHE OF MONEY.
AND I THINK IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE IF THIS MONEY BE USED, UM, FOR JACKSON COUNTY PURPOSES AND EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY OUTSIDE OF KANSAS CITY, JUST BECAUSE, UM, KANSAS CITY ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR OWN SEPARATE TRANCHE DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT RESPOND.
CHAIRMAN, MR. I APPRECIATE LEDGER SMITH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, DEALING WITH THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE AND NOT DELAYING THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE.
AND, UH, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS.
UM, I FEEL CONCERNED THAT KANSAS CITY, I DIDN'T DO IT.
UH,
UM, UH, THE ONLY THING THAT I WILL SAY ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY STRIKE IS, UM, UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE THAT I WAS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE WHEN WE AUTHORIZED CARES MONEY.
AND, UM, THERE WAS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT PROBABLY COULD HAVE COME OUT THAT COULD TRULY IMPACT ALL THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE BY COVID-19 AND THE SUBSEQUENT WAVES AFTER THAT.
UM, I THINK THE TAX BASE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS ABOUT 60 40.
KANSAS CITY IS REPRESENTING A LARGER TAX BASE, UM, PROBABLY THAN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY COMING IN.
I WOULD LOVE THAT TO BE PROVEN EITHER WAY.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE WRONG OR, OR NOT.
UM, BUT THE REALITY THAT THE NEEDS OF KANSAS CITY, UM, DEFINITELY, UM, OUTWEIGH SOME OF THE EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY COMMUNITIES, UM, IS QUESTIONABLE.
WE, WE HAVE, AND LEGISLATIVE SMITH, LET ME FINISH PLEASE.
THE REALITY THAT, UM, WE WOULD STRIKE ONE OF THE MANY CITIES THAT WE REPRESENT, UM, TO ME IS CONCERNING, BUT UNDERSTANDABLE.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DID RECEIVE A TRANCHE OF THEIR OWN MONEY HERE.
UM, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS ACTUALLY NOT STRIKING AND, AND LETTING THEM PROVE IT TO US, SETTING THE MONEY ASIDE AND SAY, COME PROVE TO US WHY THIS MONEY IS NEEDED NOW, UH, MORE THAN EVER, WITH THE REALITY THAT THEY DID RECEIVE THEIR OWN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UM, THERE WERE ALSO PROPORTIONS THAT WERE SPLIT OFF INTO OTHER CITIES THE SAME WAY FROM THE FIRST TRANCHE OF MONEY, UH, THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO, UM, THERE'S OPPORTUNITY HERE, I THINK, FOR EVERYONE, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE EQUITY THERE, UM, WITH LEAVING KANSAS CITY INN, BUT IT'S SUBJECT TO THIS BODY THAT WE WILL TAKE IT UP AS IS.
SO THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE, UM, KANSAS CITY, UM, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? QUICK DISCUSSION? YEP.
SO WHAT REALLY STRIKES ME IS, IS, UM, ONE OF THE TESTIMONIES WE HEARD WAS ABOUT THE WATER SYSTEM, UM, IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY.
WE'RE WE'RE GIVING THOSE CITIES VERY LITTLE MONEY AND PRIORITIZING INSTEAD, YOU KNOW, UH, SPORTS COMPLEX PARKING LOT OR A, UM, AND WELCOME TO LEE SUMMIT SIGN
I, I, I, SO I, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S DEFECTS ON THIS LIST JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT I WOULD PRIORITIZE.
I WOULD PRIORITIZE FRESH, CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR RESIDENTS, UH, OVER AND ABOVE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT FEEL LIKE NICE TO HAVES.
[02:15:01]
I'LL I'LL JUST SAY I'M PROBABLY A NO ON THIS E EVEN IF, UM, EVEN IF YOU GUYS DO TAKE THAT MILLION DOLLARS OUT.SO I'M JUST BEING TRANSPARENT FOR EVERYBODY TO MAKE THEIR VOTES.
ON THAT NOTE, HAVING BEEN ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND VISIT BUCKNER, SIBLEY, AND LEVI AND T TRANCH AROUND THEIR BROKEN SYSTEMS, I WELCOME EVERYONE TO GO VISIT.
UH, I THINK THE REALITY IS, UM, THEY HAVE NOW FACED AT LEAST TWO FIRES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN DEATHS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET WATER TO THE HOMES THAT WERE LITERALLY BURNING.
UH, A CHILD DIED BECAUSE OF IT.
UM, SO I DON'T DISAGREE ONE BIT HERE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S, UM, THAT'S UPON EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY AS ADVOCATES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE BROAD SENSE, UM, TO CHANGE IT IF THAT'S THE CASE.
LEGISLATIVE, YEAH, SORRY, LEGISLATIVE PAID ON THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE.
WE'RE DISCUSSING THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE.
SO DID YOU NOT SAY THAT THESE CITIES SENT US LETTERS AND SAID THIS IS THE MONEY THAT THEY WANTED? I SUPPLIED EACH OF YOU WITH LETTERS FROM THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER ON WHAT THEY WOULD USE THESE FUNDS FOR IN THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR THEIR CITIES.
BUT WE DIDN'T SAY YOU COULD ONLY HAVE $10,000.
UM, AND I AGREE WITH THE, OH, THIS IS THE AMENDMENT.
A MILLION DOLLARS FOR KANSAS CITY.
UM, I UNDERSTAND, UH, THE APA FUNDING.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT JACKSON COUNTY DEPENDS ON, UM, TRANSPORTATION FROM ALL THESE AREAS TO KANSAS CITY, JACKSON COUNTY DEPENDS ON TOURISM IN KANSAS CITY, AND THAT TOURISM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT, UM, WE NEED TO DO THE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED, THE LUMINARY PART.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS AND HOW THOSE NEEDS IMPACT.
JACKSON COUNTY GRAND VIEW IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
BUCKNER, LEVI, ALL OF THOSE, ALL OF THOSE CITIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND IMPORTANT TO JACKSON COUNTY.
SO I'M GOING BACK TO, BECAUSE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ON STRIKING THE MILLION DOLLARS F IF THIS IS WHAT THESE CITIES HAVE ASKED FOR, UM, DO WE REOPEN IT? DO WE TAKE THIS MILLION DOLLARS OUT AND REOPEN IT FOR EVERYBODY? OR DO WE, I DON'T KNOW.
SO, SO I'LL JUST ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
UM, SO FOR SIBLEY, LEVI BUCKNER, DID THEY JUST ASK FOR $10,000? 'CAUSE WHAT THEY SEEM TO PRESENT WAS MUCH GREATER THAN THAT.
I, I THINK WE'RE LOSING TRACK OF, OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
THIS IS A PROCESS TO GET SOME MONEY OUT THE DOOR.
DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T PASS LEG LEGISLATION NEXT WEEK TO GIVE LEVI AND THEM A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY.
LET'S NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A PROCESS AND IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE, WE CAN ALWAYS OPEN IT BACK UP.
THAT IS, THAT'S LEGISLATION WOULD NEVER GET DONE IF WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THE CITIES HAVE SAID WE COULD U WE WILL USE THAT MONEY FOR THIS.
OF COURSE, THEY WANT, WANT MORE.
EVERY ONE OF THESE CITIES COULD HAVE MORE MONEY AND WANT MORE MONEY.
WE ARE AT A PROCESS THAT THEY'VE AGREED AS MUNICIPALITIES, THEY WOULD USE THIS MUCH MONEY FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE.
OF COURSE, THERE'S MORE NEEDS FOR IT.
OF COURSE, THERE'S MORE NEEDS FOR EASTERN.
I I WAS JUST CLARIFYING WHAT LEGISLATOR PATENT SEEMED TO HAVE, WHICH WAS THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY'D ASKED FOR.
AND I'M, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IN SOME OF THESE LOWER AMOUNTS, THEY ASKED FOR MORE.
AND THIS WAS JUST SORT OF A, A EFFORT TO SPREAD THE FUNDS.
AND, AND, AND LET'S, WITH THAT, WE, WE ALL WITNESSED, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE END OF THIS COURTHOUSE, WHAT PEOPLE ASKED FOR.
AND EVERYONE SAT DOWN IN FRONT OF, YOU WANTED $2 MILLION EACH.
SO YES, EVERY ONE OF THESE CITIES, IF YOU CALL 'EM AND SAY, WOULD YOU LIKE MORE THAN WE'RE GIVING YOU, THEY WOULD SAY, YES, FOR SURE.
WE WENT THROUGH AND ASKED THEM IF THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, COULD YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU USE IT FOR? AND THEY ALL SAID YES.
THEY'VE ALL, THEY ALL HAVE CALLED AND SAID, BOY, WE SURE LIKE TO PUT THIS IN OUR BUDGET.
OPEN IT BACK UP MEANS THIS THING GOES ON FOR ANOTHER SEVERAL MONTHS.
DOES IT EVEN GET DONE? REMEMBER YOU GUYS PASSED THE OUTSIDE AGENCY ON DECEMBER 31ST AND WE HAD AGENCIES NOT GETTING THEIR MONEY UNTIL APRIL.
IT IT, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THAT, WRITE ALL THESE CONTRACTS AND GET THE FUNDING.
THIS IS A PROCESS WE CAN GO ON FROM HERE AND OPEN IT UP AND PASS SPECIFIC LEGISLATION FOR THE PEOPLE AT EASTERN JACK, THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE WITH WATER, FOR SURE.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE FATAL TO MOVING THIS MONEY OUT THE DOOR.
UH, AGAIN, EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS NOT PERFECT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
MR. EXECUTIVE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, UM, A SECOND, THIRD PHASE, WHATEVER WITH LEFTOVER MONEY.
MY UNDERSTANDING, I THINK IS THERE'S 1.6 MILLION OR SO LEFT FROM THE 35 MILLION THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONTRACTED, THAT COULD BE DUMPED INTO ANOTHER BUCKET OF SORTS, UM, TO REAUTHORIZE NEW PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES.
[02:20:01]
UM, WHAT'S TO HAPPEN, UM, IF WE WERE TO LEAVE THE MILLION DOLLARS IN FOR KANSAS CITY AND THEY SAY, NOPE, WE DON'T WANT IT, AFTER ALL, CAN WE PUT THAT INTO A SEPARATE PROD IF WE CHOOSE TO? I MEAN, IF WE, I MEAN, IF IT'S NOT A UP OR DOWN FOR KANSAS CITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY, IF THEY, THEY DON'T AGREE.FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO MR. CHAIRMAN IN THE CA IN THE, UH, NON-PROFIT AGENCIES, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THEM THAT DECLINED THE FUNDING.
SO THERE'S FUNDING STILL OUT THERE, AND I THINK IT'S, UH, MAYBE CLOSER TO $2 MILLION THAT THEY HAVE JUST DECIDED THEY DON'T WANT THE MONEY.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE ABILITY TO SOME MONEY FOR SOME OF THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES STILL.
SO, OR TO DEAL WITH WHAT, HOW WE WILL, UM, THAT WOULD BE THE SAME THING IF THE KANSAS CITY OF KANSAS CITY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO USE IT, IT WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE TO DO WHATEVER THIS BODY WANTED TO DO IT.
SO WE ARE ON THE AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THE $1 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS, UH, COLLEAGUES ONLINE? JUST CHECKING IN.
LEGISLATIVE SMITH, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION? OKAY.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD, ANDERSON, YES.
PEYTON, I HAVE, CAN I PREFACE MY ANSWER WITH THIS? AS LONG AS WE KNOW, IF WE'RE CUTTING THIS, I THINK THERE'S A COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL GO BACK TO KANSAS CITY AS A SEPARATE BUCKET, THEN MY ANSWER IS YES.
SO, UH, GENERAL COUNSEL, CAN YOU GUIDE US ON HOW TO STRIP THAT AND WHAT TO DO WITH THE SUBSEQUENT LANGUAGE HERE? SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A VOTE TO AMEND A SECOND TIME, WHICH IS FINE TO REDUCE, UM, BY A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO STRIKE THAT LINE THAT HAS KANSAS CITY.
SO THEN WE'LL JUST, WHAT WE'LL NEED TO DO TOMORROW IS CHANGE, OBVIOUSLY THE TITLE TO REDUCE THAT MILLION, CORRECT? THE FISCAL NOTE AND MAKE SURE THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE REFLECTS THAT REDUCTION OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
CAN YOU JUST DO IT NOW FROM THE FLOOR AS A REDUCTION OF A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND? CAN I CLARIFY? SURE.
SO, SO THE TOTAL WE ARE, I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH APPROPRIATING THE FULL 15.
EVEN THOUGH THE LIST WILL ONLY KNOW WHERE WE'RE SEEING.
SO YOU STILL WANNA APPROPRIATE THE FULL AMOUNT AND JUST STRIKE THE MILLION.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I WAS SEEING THIS AS.
IF THAT WAS YOUR, YOU'RE THE ONE I THINK WHOEVER MADE THE MOTION.
WELL THAT, SO WE'LL ONLY STRIKE THE MILLION TO KANSAS CITY.
EVERYTHING ELSE STAYS THE SAME.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT EASIER BECAUSE THE REST OF IT IS ABOUT MOVING MONEY, NOT SENDING MONEY TO SOMEBODY.
SO WE, I ALREADY HAVE IT WRITTEN THEN WE ONLY NEED TO STRIKE KANSAS CITY MUCH EASIER.
SO BACK TO THE SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED STRIKING, KANSAS CITY'S A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THIS LIST.
UM, ACTIONS HERE, MOTIONS DISCUSSIONS, I THINK DID SOMEBODY HAD, I THINK LEGISLATIVE, PEYTON, YOU HAD A BROADER QUESTION ABOUT THE LAR LARGER LEGISLATION THAT I THOUGHT YOU HAD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR ACTIONS HERE? NOW WE'RE AT 14 MILLION SOMETHING ODD DOLLARS, MR. AUDITOR, ANY STATEMENTS, THOUGHTS ON ANY OF THIS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OUT THERE? OKAY.
UM, QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS, ACTIONS HERE? I MEAN, I, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME BROAD DISCUSSIONS AROUND BUCKETS.
UM, TO, TO LEGISLATOR OR VICE CHAIR SMITH'S POINT.
YOU KNOW, A MUNICIPAL BUCKET COULD BE A THING, A, A BUCKET FOR, UM, THE COUNTY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I DID HAVE MR. EXECUTIVE, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT AT YOUR, YOUR TOWN HALL, THE MCCUNE SCHOOL, UM, IF SOMEBODY WERE TO ACQUIRE IT AND THEN DEMOLISH IT AS A PART OF THAT, THERE'S NOT ACTUALLY A MONETARY AMOUNT.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE FUNDS THEN? UH, AND WHAT, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN WE DO TO REAPPROPRIATE IF NEEDED? JUST LIKE EVERY, EVERY DOLLAR SPENT IN THIS COUNTY, I'D COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND SAY, HEY, WE WANNA MOVE IT TO THIS, OR WE COULD DO THIS.
IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TWO RFPS OUT, UH, UH, REGARDING THE MCCUNE SCHOOL PROPERTY.
ONE IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF IT FOR BIDS, AND ANOTHER ONE SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVE AT THE SAME TIME IS FOR THE DEMO DEMOLITION OF IT.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT COMES IN WITH THAT.
SO TO YOUR POINT, IF SOMEONE BUYS IT AND THEY'RE DEMOLISHING IT AND THERE'S NO MONEY NEEDED FOR THIS, THIS IS GONNA BE IN THIS FUND THAT IS GONNA BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS BODY TO OPEN THIS BACK UP FOR INFRASTRUCTURE OR TO DO OTHER ISSUES WITH IT.
[02:25:01]
GIVE YOU THAT FOR A SECOND.MR. CHAIRMAN? MR. CHAIR? YEAH.
ALL THE RECOGNIZED LEGISLATIVE LOUDER.
I MOVE TO PERFECT THE, THE AMENDED FLOOR SUBSTITUTE.
SECOND AND SECONDED, THEN I'LL TAKE IT BACK.
SO IF SOMEBODY'S WILLING TO WITHDRAW THAT MOTION AND ADD THE MILLION DOLLARS TO BUCKNER FOR THE WATER ISSUES, I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.
BUT IF WE WANNA CONTINUE AS IS, THEN THAT'S, I THINK WE'D DO THAT SEPARATELY.
THAT'S PREROGATIVE OF THE SAID REPRESENTATIVE FROM BUCKNER GOES.
SO WITH THAT SAID, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROW FOR PERFECTION.
THERE A MOTION FOR ADOPTION, MR. CHAIR? I MOVE TO ADOPT.
COLLEAGUES, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING PROCESS.
THIS IS NOT THE END OF THIS EFFORT, UM, TO DISTRIBUTE NON ARPA DOLLARS THAT CAME TO US FROM THE ARPA, UM, PROCESS.
UM, BUT, UH, WE SHALL PREVAIL AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND MR. EXECUTIVE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BRINGING BACK OPPORTUNITIES AND I'M SURE RIBBON CUTTINGS AND SIGNS AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT COME WITH IT.
UM, SO WITHOUT ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE FOR ADOPTION.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. EXECUTIVE, CONGRATULATIONS.
THIS IS LEGISLATION'S NOT EASY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE DIALOGUE THAT EVERYONE HAD TODAY WITH THIS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT STUFF AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[6050 AN ORDINANCE prohibiting law enforcement officers from concealing their faces or badges during performance of their official duties and establishing penalties and exemptions.]
[6077 AN ORDINANCE enacting section 6004., of the Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to standards for care and treatment in Jackson County residential facilities with a severability clause.]
[6091 AN ORDINANCE submitting to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, at a general election to be held on November 3, 2026, a question authorizing Jackson County to impose a countywide sales tax of one half of one percent for public transportation purposes.]
[6097 AN ORDINANCE establishing the position of Legislative Intern within the Office of the Jackson County Legislature and setting forth provisions governing the appointment, supervision, and employment of Legislative Interns.]
[6099 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 5.00± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RR (Residential Ranchette).]
[6100 AN ORDINANCE requesting a conditional use permit (CUP) of AG (Agricultural) zoning district for continuous operation of an agritourism operation associated with the management of an alpaca farm.]
[6101 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 10.05± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RE (Residential Estates).]
[6102 AN ORDINANCE amending the zoning districts established pursuant to the Unified Development Code by rezoning a certain 25.00± acre tract from District AG (Agricultural) to District RR (Residential Ranchette).]
[6105 AN ORDINANCE repealing sections 1030. and 1040. of the Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to competitive bidding, and enacting, in lieu thereof, two new sections relating to the same subject.]
TO MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING ON SOME THINGS.UM, 60 50, 60 77, 60 91 HOLD ON ONE SECOND SO WE CAN KEEP UP.
SO, 60 50, WHAT WAS THE NEXT ONE? 77 91.
THESE ARE EITHER NEWLY INTRODUCED OR, UM, BEEN DID YOU SAY 61 0 2? I DID.
EITHER NEWLY INTRODUCED OR THEY'VE, UM, ARE, ARE WAITING ON COMMITTEES SECOND, OR, OR THEY'VE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND I DON'T THINK WE RESOLVE THEM TODAY.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 7 27 AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE COURTHOUSE AND SAID THAT THOSE ARE FOUR.
WHICH ORDINANCES AGAIN? THAT'S 60 99 THROUGH 61 0 2.
SO THERE'S A MOTION AND THERE'S A SECOND TO WAIVE THE READINGS FOR 60 50, 60, 77, 69.
1 60, 97, 60 99, 6100, 61 0 1, 61 0 2, AND 61 0 5.
ANY DISCUSSION? I DON'T THINK THEY'RE MOVING TODAY AND MOST OF THEM ARE WAITING IN COMMITTEE.
ACTUALLY, ONE QUESTION THAT I DID HAVE, AND, AND MAYBE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE EXECUTIVES REPORT.
UM, TALKING ABOUT THE CARE AND TREATMENT IN JACKSON COUNTY'S RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, UM, IS SOMEWHAT OF A CONCERN.
SO I THINK THAT ONE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A DISCUSSION SEEING HOW WE JUST HAD A DEATH AT OUR NEW JAIL.
UM, BUT IT'S THE SUBJECT OF THE BODY.
IF YOU WANT TO AVOID THAT, THEN I, I FEEL LIKE THE DISCUSSION ON THAT SHOULD WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE THE FACTS RELEASED FROM THE SHERIFF.
LAST I READ, THE FAMILY HADN'T EVEN BEEN NOTIFIED YET.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I'VE GOT EVEN MORE CONCERNS.
BUT I'LL BE VOTING AGAINST THAT FOR THAT VERY REASON.
IS THAT I THINK WE DESERVE AN UPDATE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AN UPDATE.
I DON'T KNOW MR. EXECUTIVE, IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THE UPDATE, UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD RELY ON THE NEWS TO TELL US ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OWN COUNTY, BUT MY PREROGATIVE THERE.
SO WITH THAT, WE ARE VOTING ON HONOR CLERK.
I'M REPEATING SO THAT YOU HAVE THESE AGAIN.
60 91, 60 97, 60 99, 6100, 61 0 1, 61 0 2,
[02:30:04]
AND SIXTY ONE OH FIVE.PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ANDERSON.
FINAL PASSAGE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES.
[7 FINAL PASSAGE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES]
MADAM CLERK.[8 RESOLUTIONS IN COMMITTEE]
[22344 A RESOLUTION declaring certain County owned land as surplus real property and authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling one (1) surplus parcel.]
FOUR.DECLARING CERTAIN COUNTY OWNED LAND OF SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR SELLING ONE SURPLUS PARCEL.
COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
MR. EXECUTIVE, THIS IS THE JACKSON COUNTY ELECTION BOARD BUILDING PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD FROM THEM OR NOT.
THEY, IT, EVERY TIME IT, UH, RAINS, THEY HAVE, UH, SUBSTANTIAL LEAK.
THEY HAVE SOME WATER ISSUES AND SOME AIR ISSUES IN THAT BUILDING.
WE NEED TO GET THEM INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
BUT THIS STARTS HERE WITH THAT PROCESS.
THE INDEPENDENT SQUARE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN HAS A, A OVERVIEW OF HOW THEY WANT TO REDEVELOP THE SQUARE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPERTY DEMOLISHING IT.
UH, MAYBE PUTTING UP A BOUTIQUE HOTEL.
THIS BODY DESIGNATES THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AS A SURPLUS, WHICH MEANS WE CAN ENTERTAIN BIDS, WHICH COMES BACK TO THIS BODY SAYING, HERE, THIS PERSON WANTS TO DO THIS WITH THIS PROPERTY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? THIS IN NO WAY MEANS THAT THE PROPERTY GOES AWAY.
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SELL IT.
IT MIGHT SIT THERE FOR A WHILE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.
THE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, DESIGNATE IT SURPLUS AND TO BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN POSSIBILITIES TO GET A NEW HOME FOR THE LECTURE BOARD AND TO MAKE SOME MONEY ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
ANY DISCUSSION MR. EXECUTIVE, UM, WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR PROCUREMENT FOR THIS? WHAT'S THE TIMELINE YOU'VE GOT SET OPEN TO? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UH, WE ARE WORKING ON THE RFPS FOR THE MCCUNE PROPERTY, AND IT TOOK ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF TO GET 'EM OUT THE DOOR.
SO NO LESS THAN 45 DAYS BASICALLY? CORRECT.
IS WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING, I PRESUME YOU'RE USING BONFIRE.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT 2, 2 3.
[22337 A RESOLUTION authorizing the County Executive to execute a renewal of a five-year Lease Agreement for office space for use by the Jackson County Drug Task Force with EL, LLC, of Blue Springs, MO, under the terms and conditions of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 60-21, at a cost to the County for 2027 in the amount of $78,000.00, and a total five-year cost of $401,832.00.]
I'LL WAVE THE READING ON THE REMAINING RESOLUTIONS FROM 2, 2, 3, 4.MADAM CLERK, I'LL NOTE THE PRESS HAS A SIX O'CLOCK HOUR THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HIT MR. SMITH, BUT I'LL CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA AS IS.
AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO EXECUTE RENEWAL OF A FIVE YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT FOR OFFICE SPACE FOR USE BY THE JACKSON COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE WITH LLLC OF BLUE SPRINGS, MISSOURI, UNDER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
RFP NUMBER 60 21 AT ACOA COUNTY FOR 2027 IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,000 IN A TOTAL FIVE YEAR COST OF $401,832.
JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE, MR. EXECUTIVE, AND WE'LL INVITE UP OUR DRUG TASK FORCE IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US.
THIS IS THE, TO THE, UH, LEASE FOR THE PROPERTY, THE JU JACKSON COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE.
WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT FOR QUITE A WHILE AND WE, EXCUSE ME, MR. CHAIR, IS THIS A COMMITTEE? NO.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO POINT BOARD ON THE, ON THE, UM, AGENDA.
IT IS IN THE JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS, UH, THE LEASE SETTLED FOR THEM TO GET, WE HAVE A, A, UH, A, A LOCATION THAT'S BEEN GREAT.
HE ACT, ACTUALLY, REMEMBER, HE, HE CAME BACK A HIGHER AMOUNT AND, UH, WE DID SOME NEGOTIATION.
WE GOT HIM BACK DOWN WHERE I'M, WHERE WE LIKE HIM AT.
MR. EXECUTIVE, GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE, PLEASE.
BOARD OF INQUIRY, MR. EXECUTIVE, GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE.
WE DID NOT ORDER 2, 2, 3, 4, 4 WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE.
SO WE'LL TAKE THAT BACK UP HERE AFTER THIS.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PRESENTATION BY OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND OUR DRUG TASK FORCE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A COORDINATED EFFORT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE HERE, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE AS IS.
MR. CUMMINGS? UH, NOTHING FURTHER THAN WE'VE BEEN.
UH, THIS WAS A PREVIOUSLY BID, UH, CONTRACT AND WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE RENEWAL OF OUR LEASE BEGINNING IN 2027.
SO, UH, MR. CUMMINGS, TELL US THE TIMING IN CASE FOLKS NEED TO KNOW IF THERE'S SOME DEADLINE OR SOME ISSUE GOING ON WITH YOU GUYS TO GET THIS DONE SOONER THAN LATER.
[02:35:01]
UH, THE LEASE EXPIRES DECEMBER THE 31ST OF THIS YEAR.SO WE JUST WANT, WE'RE ASKING FOR A RENEWAL.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ADD TO DISCHARGE YES.
DONE BY THE SPONSOR? SURE DOES.
AND ANYONE CAN BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR TO DO THAT.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR TO DISCHARGE? OKAY, THEN I GUESS WE'LL HOLD ON.
SO GENERAL COUNSEL, CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW WE SHOULD TAKE THIS UP? SEEING HOW WE'VE JUST AUTHORIZED SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US PARTOOK IN AND THEN WENT BACK AND WANNA MODIFY.
UM, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THIS WAS IN COMMITTEE.
SO IT WOULD, WE WOULD NEED, UH, MOTION TO DISCHARGE FROM THE SPONSOR.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHO THAT IS, BUT SOMEONE COULD ADD THEMSELF AS SPONSOR AND MOVE TO DISCHARGE.
IF GENERAL COUNSEL, HOW DOES IT GO THAT WE ADOPTED THIS BYPASSING THE PROCESS FOR DISCHARGE? I, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS STILL IN COMMITTEE.
I ASSUMED SINCE IT CAME UP FOR A VOTE, IT WAS IN LEGISLATURE AS A WHOLE, BUT IT IS STILL ON COMMITTEE.
SO WE WILL BE, YOU'RE THE SPONSOR, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANYONE ELSE TAKE IT ON AS A SPONSORSHIP TO DISCHARGE.
IT'S CLEAR AND INTENDED THAT THERE'S SOME FOLKS HERE WHO WANNA TAKE ME OUTTA THIS CHAIR SO I WILL NOT STEP DOWN.
IS THAT THE CASE? SO CONTINUE.
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD? I THINK EITHER YOU COULD MOVE TO DISCHARGE IT FROM COMMITTEE AND WE COULD HAVE THAT VOTE OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD BE ADDED AS SPONSOR AND THEY COULD MOVE TO DISCHARGE IT.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE ADOPTION WILL BE VALID UNTIL IT'S MOVED OUTTA COMMITTEE.
DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND DISCHARGE ANY OF THE, UM, GO AHEAD.
THAT'S THE ONLY I'LL ASK TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR.
SO WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN, WELL THEN AND I MOVE TO DISCHARGE.
SO IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND TO DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE? SECOND.
[22345 A RESOLUTION declaring certain County owned land as surplus real property and authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling one (1) surplus parcel.]
TO 2, 2, 3, 4, 5.MR. CHAIRMAN WOULD NEED TO BE DISCHARGED.
IS THERE A SPONSOR WILLING TO BE ADDED FOR DISCHARGE? LEGISLATOR MCGEE IS THE SPONSOR.
AH, IS THERE A REQUEST? IT'S IN HIS COMMITTEE, MAYBE ALSO.
ANYONE? I WOULD MOVE THAT WE CAN DISCHARGE THIS FROM COMMITTEE.
ANY DISCUSSION MR. EXECUTOR? YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT HILLCREST? THIS IS A GIGANTIC PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS IN BETWEEN THE HILLCREST GOLF COURSE AND THE BLUE RIVER THAT, UH, IS ESSENTIALLY LANDLOCKED THAT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE AT HILLCREST GOLF COURSE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER THEY WOULD WANNA LEASE IT FROM THE COUNTY, BUY IT FROM THE COUNTY, UH, EXTEND THE, THE GOLF COURSE OVER THERE.
AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT IF IT'S MADE SURPLUS, WE CAN ENTERTAIN THAT WITHOUT DOING THAT.
I BELIEVE IT'S PART OF, IT'S IN A FLOODPLAIN ALSO TOO.
BUT, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN THAT TO SEE IF IT'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE CANNOT USE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME MONEY ON.
SO, MR. EXECUTIVE FROM, HAVE WE TALKED TO HILLCREST? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS INITIALLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THEY WOULD LOVE TO BID ON THIS AND SUPPLY THE COUNTY WITH A PROPOSAL OF HOW THEY COULD USE THE LAND IF THIS BODY SEEDS FIT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ACTION HERE NOW THAT, UH, WHAT WE HAVE TO TAKE FROM DISCHARGE? MY APOLOGIES.
SO IS MOTION TO DISCHARGE OF THE SECONDED MADAM CLERK Q, NOT TAKE A VOTE ON THE DISCHARGE.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO 2, 2, 3, 4, 6.
[22346 A RESOLUTION declaring certain County owned land as surplus real property and authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling five (5) surplus parcels.]
DECLARING CERTAIN COUNTY OWNS LAND AS SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR SELLING FIVE SURPLUS PARCELS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCHARGE? THIS IS IN THE, UH, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.
UH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE, OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT IS, IS DRAWN MCGEE.
WE DISCHARGED THAT ITEM FROM COMMITTEE SECOND.
DISCUSSION ON THE DISCHARGE, MR. EXECUTIVE.
[02:40:01]
DIFFERENT PROPERTIES AT, UH, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, LEASE, SUMMIT ROAD AND STRU ROAD, UM, THERE'S SEVERAL 10 TO 20 DIFFERENT JUST PARCELS THAT HAVE BEEN CUT UP AS THE ROAD WAS MADE.AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE OF NO USE FOR US IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OR DEVELOP A, A, A, UH, A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR SOMETHING.
UH, THEY ARE NOT, UM, THE PROPERTY THAT IS DIRECTLY TO THE SOUTH OF A UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND THEY ARE NOT THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE HILLTOP SCHOOL.
THE, UM, FAMILY COURT LOCATION ON GREGORY.
THEY'RE CONFUSING CHAIRS WITH SPONSORS.
QUESTIONS ON ACTIONS FOR THE DISCHARGE? JUST A SECOND, PLEASE.
UH, CHARLIE FRANKLIN IS THE, UM, SPONSOR.
LEGISLATIVE FRANKLIN, DID YOU WANT TO DISCHARGE MOVE TO DISCHARGE THERE A SECOND.
ANY JUST FURTHER DISCUSSION ON SRU ROAD? 2, 2, 3, 4, 6.
SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, DO YOU WANNA DO, JUST DO VOICE VOTE ON THESE? UH, NO.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL.
[22347 A RESOLUTION declaring certain County owned land as surplus real property and authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling two (2) surplus parcels.]
MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL 2 2 3 4 7.
WE'LL GET A MOTION OUT TO RESPOND THE RULES WITH THE INTENT BEING TO, MADAM CLERK WILL READ THIS INTO ORDER AND WE WILL THEN TAKE ON THAT ISSUE, ENTITLING THE NEW CHAIR TO REASSIGN COMMITTEES.
IF ONE IS SO ELECTED, MADAM CLERK, WE WILL CALL IN THIS AND THEN WE WILL HEAR THE MOTION POINT OF ORDER.
WE WILL CALL THIS IN AND THEN WE WILL HEAR THE MOTION.
I HAVE A POINT ORDER, I BELIEVE UNDER ROBERT'S RULES.
IF THERE IS A LAWFULLY MADE MOTION AND SECOND AND IT'S REPEATED, THEN IT HAS TO BE HEARD.
PRIOR TO HEARING ANYTHING ELSE, THE MOTION WAS ALREADY CALLED IN ACTION PRIOR TO THAT.
WHICH MOTION? THE MOTION TO CALL THAT TO READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
SEE, I WASN'T AWARE OF ANY PENDING MOTION.
IS THERE A PENDING MOTION? NO.
I THINK THE ONLY PENDING MOTION IS BY ALL MEANS THEN IS LEGISLATOR SMITH.
IT IS TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND VOTE ON REMOVAL OF THE CHAIR AND, AND FURTHER SUSPENDING THE RULES AND ALLOWING THE NEW CHAIR IF ONE IS ELECTED TO REASSIGN SUBCOMMITTEES.
THE PROCESS FOR ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
TALK ABOUT THIS METHODOLOGY AND THAT'S NOT IT.
SO HOW DO WE PROTECT THIS? I'VE CONSIDERED GENERAL COUNSEL THE RULES.
I BELIEVE SINCE THE RULES WERE SUSPENDED, WHICH IS ONE MOTION ITSELF.
YEAH, THAT'S YOU HAVE TO, SORRY.
YOU HAVE, SINCE THERE'S A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT IF THE RULES ARE GOING TO BE SUSPENDED.
AND I WAS MOVING TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND STATING WHY.
THERE WILL BE SECOND AND I SECOND.
SO I THINK WE PROCEED WITH THAT VOTE.
SO THE MOTION IS WHAT MADAM CLERK IS THE MOTION JUST TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
THE REST OF IT WAS JUST A STATEMENT AS TO WHY.
DISCUSSION TO WHY IS THIS PROCESS UNDERTAKEN VICE CHAIR TO YOU? UH, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME GENERAL DYSFUNCTION IN THE BODY AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE A NEW PERSON IN THE CHAIR.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO I HAVE DISCUSSION.
I HAVE CONCERNS OF SEVERAL LEGISLATORS AND THEIR COMPLAINTS, AND INCLUDING VICE CHAIR THAT RISE ABOVE THIS METHODOLOGY OF AN ATTEMPTED COUP.
I'LL SUBMIT THOSE TO THE ETHICS COMPLAINTS AND LET THAT PROCESS WORK ITSELF OUT.
'CAUSE THE REALITY IS, IT IS INDICTMENT OF VICE CHAIR SMITH, LEGISLATOR SMITH, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS.
THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE UNDERGOING ARE NECESSARY TO ROOT OUT THE CORRUPTION AND THE INTENTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO DO WHAT THE ACTION IS.
NOW, FOLKS SPECIFICALLY INQUIRED AND ASKED ABOUT MY GENERAL LOCATION FOR THE LAST FIVE DAYS, INCLUDING LEGISLATORS, ANDERSON, LEGISLATOR MCGEE, LEGISLATOR HUSKY LEGISLATORS FROM ST.
LOUIS, BECAUSE THE PLAN WAS FOR ME TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CONFERENCE AS I
[02:45:01]
DO EVERY YEAR.HOWEVER, THE REALITY IS VICE-CHAIR SMITH AND LEGISLATOR MCGEE UNDOUBTEDLY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS TO LEAD US TO HERE.
SERVING AS THE CHAIR HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE, AND SO CARRIES THE TITLE AND THE DUTY RESPONSIBLE WITH IT.
WITHIN THIS INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS, MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS OF LEGISLATORS, INCLUDING LEGISLATOR ANDERSON, INCLUDING LEGISLATOR SMITH, I'D LIKE TO CALL, CALL LEGISLATION, INCLUDING LEGISLATOR MCGEE, INCLUDING THE CLERK'S OFFICE, HAVE ALL BEEN IN COOPERATION FOR SPECIFIC ENGAGEMENTS.
HAPPY TO SHARE ALL THOSE WITH THE ONGOING PROCESS THAT I HAVE TO LAY FORTH.
SO, WITH THAT CALL, TWO QUESTION.
SO I WILL NOW TAKE OVER THE CHAIR AND I WILL DO SO WITH ONLY ONE DUTY.
AND THAT IS TO OPEN NOMINATIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF A NEW CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE JAYLEN ANDERSON.
THERE'S BEEN A NOMINATION FOR JAYLEN ANDERSON.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE, UH, I WILL TURN DOWN, UH, THE NOMINATION AND, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE LEGISLATOR DONNA PEYTON LEGISLATOR.
DONNA PEYTON'S BEEN, UH, NOMINATED AND LEGISLATOR, UH, ANDERSON HAS DECLINED THE NOMINATION.
ARE THERE ANY I'LL SECOND NOMINATIONS, LEGISLATOR DEBARKER HAS SECONDED THE NOMINATION.
I'M GONNA LEAVE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR JUST A FEW MORE SECONDS.
AND IF THERE ARE NONE, THEN LEGISLATOR PEYTON WILL BECOME OUR CHAIR BY ACCLIMATION.
LEGISLATOR SMITH, I SAW YOU SHAKE, DECLINE.
CHARLIE FRANKLIN, UH, I'LL DECLINE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS.
ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? I WILL NOW DECLARE NOMINATIONS CLOSED WITH ONLY ONE NOMINEE WHO'S ACCEPTED? LEGISLATOR DONNA.
PEYTON HAS BECOME OUR NEW CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO WAIVE THE
[22304 A RESOLUTION establishing the Unincorporated Jackson County Fund and directing the County Executive and County Administration to develop policies and procedures for the administration of said fund.]
[22312 A RESOLUTION authorizing the Interim Director of Finance and Purchasing to issue a check in the amount of $239,121.00 for the purchase of equipment for the City of Buckner.]
[22323 A RESOLUTION directing the County Executive, the Department of Public Works, and all appropriate County departments and agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive framework governing the siting, construction, expansion, and operation of artificial intelligence and high-capacity data center facilities within Jackson County, Missouri, and establishing conditions necessary to protect public infrastructure, utility systems, environmental resources, public safety, and neighboring communities.]
[22335 A RESOLUTION awarding a contract for the purchase of new rifles and declaring as surplus, existing rifles to use as trade-in for the Sheriff’s Office to Precision Arms of Indiana, LLC, dba PAI Defense of Columbia City, IN, under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid No. 26-035 at a cost to the County not to exceed $52,356.00.]
READING ON THE REMAINING RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN SELECT MEETINGS THAT HAVE NOT, THAT WOULD BE, I BELIEVE, 2, 2 3, 4, 3.I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO DISCHARGE.
FOUR TWO TWO THREE THREE SEVEN.
THERE'S A MOTION TO DISCHARGE.
ARE YOU, I WAS READING, ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING? WHO'S THE JUDGE? WE HAVE, UM, A MOTION THAT'S BEING READ TO WAIVE THE READING.
AND THEN WE HAVE A MOTION FROM TO DISCHARGE.
[22336 A RESOLUTION awarding a contract for the purchase of one (1) Ford Transit van for use by the Sheriff’s Office to CFLR Auto, LLC, of Republic, MO, under the terms and conditions of State of Missouri Contract No. MC250182003, an existing competitively bid government contract, at an actual cost to the County in the amount of $47,470.00.]
[22338 A RESOLUTION awarding a contract for the purchase of three (3) 2026 Ford F-150 Police Responder vehicles for use by the Sheriff’s Office to CFLR Auto, LLC, of Republic, MO, under the terms and conditions of State of Missouri Contract No. MC250182003, an existing competitively bid government contract, at an actual cost to the County in the amount of $146,967.00.]
[22343 A RESOLUTION transferring $933,880.00 within the 2026 General Fund, and $74,880.00 within the County Improvement Fund to hire additional staff and provide such staff with necessary equipment and vehicles for security for the Public Safety Campus courtrooms use by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.]
[22348 A RESOLUTION declaring certain County owned land as surplus real property and authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling five (5) surplus parcels.]
[22349 A RESOLUTION declaring certain County owned land as surplus real property and authorizing the Administration to solicit bids for selling one (1) surplus parcel.]
AT 2, 2 3, 3 6 FOR THE READING.2, 2, 3, 6 3 7 IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
MME. CLARK, PLEASE CALL THE LAW ANDERSON.
MCGEE, YOU'RE VOTING RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE VOTING RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO WE HAVE, UM, A DISCHARGE
[02:50:01]
MOTION FOR 2 2 3 3 7 2 2 2 2 3 3 7 IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD.WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I JUST THINK OF SOMETHING.
THERE IS NOT A SECOND ON THE DISCHARGE.
[9 CONSENT AGENDA]
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO, MA'AM.[10 INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE]
[6108 AN ORDINANCE appropriating $31,248.00 from the undesignated fund balance of the 2026 General Fund in acceptance of insurance proceeds for the repair of damage to a Sheriff’s Office vehicle and auction proceeds from Purple Wave, Inc of Manhattan, KS.]
PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND ASSIGNMENTS TO COMMITTEES 6 1 0 8 APPROPRIATING $31,248 FROM THE UN DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE 2026 GENERAL FUND.AN ACCEPTANCE OF INSURANCE PROCEEDS FOR THE REPAIR OF DAMAGE TO A SHERIFF'S OFFICE VEHICLE AND AUCTION PROCEEDS FROM PURPLE WAIVE INC.
OF MANHATTAN, KANSAS, INTRODUCED BY VANESSA HUSKY.
WE WILL ASSIGN THAT TO JUSTICE AND LAW.
[6109 AN ORDINANCE appropriating $32,000.00 from the undesignated fund balance of the 2026 Anti-Crime Sales Tax Fund and authorizing the Prosecuting Attorney to execute an agreement with a certain outside agency which is engaged in anti-crime, anti-violence, drug prevention and treatment activities, at a cost to the County not to exceed $32,000.00.]
APPROPRIATING $32,000 FROM THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF THE 2026 ANTI-CRIME SALES TAX FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH A CERTAIN OUTSIDE AGENCY WHICH IS ENGAGED IN ANTI-CRIME, ANTI-VIOLENCE DRUG PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACTIVITIES THAT COST THE COUNTY NOT TO EXCEED $32,000 INTRODUCED BY VANESSA HUSKY.WE WILL ASSIGN THAT TO ANTI-CRIME.
[11 INTRODUCTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE]
OF PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE 2 2 3 5 2 AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY COUNSELOR TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING RELATING TO THE SETTLEMENT OF, OF THE ASSESSMENT CLASS ACTION CASE NOW PENDING IN THE 16TH CIRCUIT COURT OF JACKSON COUNTY, INTRODUCED BY MANUEL BARKER IV.AND, UM, HAS BEEN MOVED A SECOND TO THERE'S A AMENDMENT, A MOTION TO ADOPT THE INMATE.
CAN I CLARIFY? I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER INTRODUCED THE WAY WE SAW IT IN CLOSED SESSION.
I'M JUST HAND IT OUT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT WAS OUTTA THE PACKET.
AND I HAVE A MOTION BY A BARCA.
SEE, WE STILL AGREE ON SOME STEPS.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROOM ANDERSON.
THIS IS TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT CORRECT? OR TO TAKE, TO JUST ADOPT IT.
'CAUSE IT WASN'T THIS IS ITS FIRST INTRODUCTION.
I MEAN SO MANY HAVE A QUESTION POINT OF INFORMATION.
DO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE EXECUTIVE ESTIMATE? I DID.
OH, YES, MEGAN? MY, MY I DIDN'T HAVE THE FILE OF THAT.
A AMENDMENT OR THE, THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION.
IT'S NOT, THE LINK ISN'T, UM, UP FOR THAT.
THE LINK WASN'T ACTIVATED BECAUSE IT WAS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
BUT, BUT THE COUNTY COUNSELOR'S GONNA SEND IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
A READOUT ON WHAT IT IS FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MADAM CHAIR COUNTY'S BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME LITIGATION BY A, A CLASS ACTION PARTY THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, WE DISCUSSED THIS MATTER IN CLOSED SESSION.
WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEDIATION.
THE WAY THIS GETS RESOLVED, ISSUES GET RESOLVED.
LAWSUITS THAT THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVES THE SETTLEMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THEM SETTLEMENT TERMS AND INTRODUCES RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ME TO INTRODUCE OR TO, EXCUSE ME, EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING RELATED TO THE SETTLEMENT WITH THE, UH, OTHER PARTIES.
UH, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ENCLOSED SESSION.
UM, OUR ATTORNEY IS SENDING IT TO YOU NOW AND WE'RE JUST HOLDING UP FOR A SECOND.
SO LEGISLATOR SMITH CAN GET THIS LEGISLATOR SMITH, DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES FOR YOU TO LOOK IT OVER? OH NO.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY NOT TO HOLD UP THE VOTE.
I CAN, I CAN REVIEW IT WHEN SHE SENDS IT AND ENTER MY VOTE BEFORE WE ADJOURN THE MEETING, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
AND, UH, IT IS NOT VARYING FROM WHAT WE HAD IN CLOSED SESSION.
SO WE'VE HAD, UM, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLE? MM-HMM
[02:55:01]
YES.AND SMITH, ARE YOU READY OR NOT YET? NO, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
I'LL JUST ABSTAIN FOR NOW AND THEN, UM, I'LL, I'LL COME BACK AT THE MEETING.
AND WE'RE GONNA COME BACK TO IT BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
WE, WE ARE COMING BACK TO THIS BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
[22355 A RESOLUTION authorizing the County Executive to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department related to the maintenance of the parks facilities within the County's Park System.]
AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY, WITH THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RELATED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PARKS FACILITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY'S PARK SYSTEM INTRODUCED BY MANUEL BARKER.ASSIGNED TO PUBLIC WORKS TWO THROUGH THREE.
[22356 A RESOLUTION awarding a twelve month term and supply contract, with two (2) twelve-month options to extend, for the furnishing of batteries for boats, turf equipment, automobiles, and heavy equipment for use by various County Departments to Continental Battery Company of Irving, TX and Factory Motor Parts of Lee’s Summit, MO, under the terms and conditions of Invitation to Bid No. 26-034.]
SIX WARNING 12 MONTHS CONTRACT WITH TWO 12 MONTH OPTIONS TO EXTEND FOR THE FURNISHING OF BATTERIES FOR BOATS, TUR EQUIPMENT, AUTOMOBILES, AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT.FOR USE BY VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO CONTINENTAL BATTERY COMPANY OF IRVING, TEXAS, AND FACTORY MOTOR PARTS OF LEE SUMMIT, MISSOURI.
UNDER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF INVITATION TO BID NUMBER 26 DASH 0 3 4, INTRODUCED BY DONNA PEYTON, WE WILL SEND THIS TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
[22357 A RESOLUTION establishing the Jackson County Housing Trust Fund to support the development, preservation, rehabilitation, and accessibility of affordable housing throughout Jackson County, Missouri, and requesting the County Administration to develop policies governing the use of the Fund.]
ESTABLISHING THE JACKSON COUNTY HOUSING TRUST FUND TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI, AND REQUESTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP POLICIES GOVERNING THE USE OF THE FUND.INTRODUCED BY MANUEL BARKER THE FOURTH WILLIS SIGNED.
ASSIGN THIS TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
[22358 A RESOLUTION awarding a contract for the furnishing of records management and CAD systems software maintenance for use by the Parks + Rec Department to Central Square Technologies, LLC, of Lake Mary, FL, at an actual cost to the County in the amount of $29,810.00, as a sole source purchase.]
2 2 3 5 8.AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR THE FURNISHING OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND CAD SYSTEMS SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE FOR USE BY THE PARKS PLUS REC DEPARTMENT TO CENTRAL SQUARE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC OF LAKE MARY, FLORIDA.
IT ACTUAL COST THE COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,810 AS A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE INTRODUCED BY DONNA PEYTON.
WE'LL ASSIGN THIS TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
[22359 A RESOLUTION authorizing the Jackson County Legislature to hold a closed meeting on Monday, July 20, 2026, for the purpose of conducting privileged and confidential communications between itself, the Jackson County Auditor, and the Jackson County Counselor under sections 610.021(1)(3) and (17) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and closing all records prepared for discussion at said meeting.]
AUTHORIZING THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE TOLD A CLOSED MEETING ON MONDAY, JULY 20TH, 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING PRIVILEGE AND CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ITSELF AND THE JACKSON COUNTY AUDITOR AND THE JACKSON COUNTY COUNSELOR UNDER SECTION 6 1 0 0.02.ONE PARAGRAPHS ONE, THREE AND 17 OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF MISSOURI ENC.
CLOSING ALL RECORDS PREPARED FOR DISCUSSION AT SAID MEETING INTRODUCED BY MANUEL BARCA BEFORE MOVE TO ADOPT.
IS THERE A SECOND VICE CHAIR? I I WAS JUST GONNA COMMENT, I I THINK WE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA AS A PLACEHOLDER, UM, IN CASE WE NEEDED TO REVISIT SOME OF THE THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT ON FRIDAY, BUT WE, WE DID BELIEVE THAT TODAY WOULD BE TOO SOON TO COME BACK TO REVISIT THOSE THINGS WHILE THINGS ARE KIND OF PROGRESSING.
MADAM CHAIR, I ACTUALLY PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH TODAY.
THERE WAS A MOTION, THERE WAS NO SECOND.
AFTER HEARING THAT INFORMATION, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION TO GO INTO, UM, CLOSED SESSION? NOT HEARING A SECOND.
[12 COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS]
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS? NO.[13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
BUSINESS? YES.GOING BACK TO THAT, THAT RESOLUTION, I JUST HAVE ONE, ONE QUESTION.
WILL PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION DISSOLVE THAT CLASS ACTION CLAIM? YES.
WE'RE, WE'RE THERE'S STILL SOME MOVING PARTS ON THERE.
THE COURT WILL HAVE TO, UH, CERTIFY IT AS WELL AND ACCEPT IT, BUT WE, WE CAN'T GO FORWARD AS A COMBINED AGREEMENT UNTIL THE LEGISLATORS HAVE VOTED ON IT.
WHAT, WHAT'S MY VOTE? IS MY, MY VOTE IS YES.
WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME? YOUR HONOR, ARE YOU GONNA WEIGH IN ON THIS? YEAH.
SO THEN THE FINAL VOTE FOR 2, 2, 3 5 2 IS EIGHT? YES.
THE NEXT COURT DATE IS JULY 27TH.
BUT THAT COULD ALSO TAKE SOME TIME TO GO THROUGH AND, AND GET ACCEPTANCE FROM THE COURT AND I CAN KEEP THE LEGISLATOR INFORMED AFTER THAT AS WELL.
AND OUR VOTE TODAY WILL ALLOW YOU TO BE PREPARED FOR THE 27TH.
THE VOTE TODAY WILL ALLOW ME TO ENTER INTO A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE OTHER PARTIES ON THE TERMS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED BEFORE, AND THAT WITH THAT BEING DONE, THE APPROVAL OF LEGISLATURE TO THE TERMS THAT WE DISCUSSED, THAT PARTY, WE WILL FINALLY HAVE A FINAL TERM TO GO IN FRONT OF THE, THE COURT AND SAY, HEY JUDGE, WE AGREED TO ALL
[03:00:01]
THESE THINGS AND THE JUDGE WILL ENTER AN ORDER.SO TIMEFRAME IS WHEN THE, WE CAN GET ON THE COURT'S DOCKET, BUT THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT WHERE WE'RE GOING NOW WAS IMPORTANT TODAY.
[14 NEW BUSINESS]
BUSINESS.[15 ADJOURNMENT]
MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 27TH, 2026 AT 3:00 PM AT THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE.4 1 5 EAST 12TH STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
SECOND FLOOR IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AREA.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED TO ADJOURN.